Descartes

Questions for Study and Discussion:

Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy

1) What is Descartes' project?  What roles do the proofs of the existence of the self (as a "thinking thing") and God play in this project?  To what extent does the project succeed?  And, if it breaks down, where and how does it fail?

2) Descartes aims to search for truth through the method of doubt (M2).  What is the method of doubt?  What role does the "Evil Deceiver" play?  In what way does this method allow Descartes to reach certainty?

3) The first certainty for Descartes is "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore, I am).  What does this mean?  How is it established?

4) Descartes provides two different proofs for the existence of God: the causal argument in the third Meditation and the ontological argument in the fifth Meditation.  Carefully reconstruct both arguments and consider their legitimacy.

5) In Meditation five, Descartes proceeds according to the following logic: God exists because we perceive Him clearly and distinctly; and since God exists and is no deceiver, whatever we perceive clearly and distinctly is true.  This has been considered a circular argument, i.e., the famous "Cartesian circle."  Do you agree?  If so, do you see any way to resolve the logical fallacy?

6) Descartes argues that God is not responsible for our mistaken judgment, but rather that we ourselves bear this responsibility.  What is Descartes' explanation for error (Fourth Meditation)?  How does Descartes' explanation for error compare with Augustine's explanation for evil?

7) According to Descartes, "I" is merely a thinking thing, i.e., a mind or soul which is distinguished from the body.  What is Descartes' argument for the distinction between mind and body?  Do you think it tenable? (See M2 and M6)