Meditations on First Philosophy: with Selections from the Objections and Replies (Oxford World's Classics)

Good

A critical mind doesn't fall from the sky; it has to be acquired, built up and perfected. Rene' Descartes is and always will be the father of modern philosophy. Descartes' arguments inspired movies such as the Matrix and Inception and rightfully so. HIs legacy still lives on to this day. Descartes is indeed a powerhouse in regards to epistemology, and gave significant proof on how one can give reasons on their own existence. John Cottingham "Descartes' Meditations on First philosophy' is, indisputably, one of the greatest philosophical classics of all time." Descartes on doubting everything What we must do is find the truth by doubting all we can, and finding the only undoubtable thing then build knowledge based off that foundation. "I doubt therefore I think therefore I am, the very fact that I doubt my existence, confirms my existence is a thinking thing." This leads to truth that leads to knowledge God exists otherwise our knowledge of the external world can only be true if God exists.

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Rene Descartes' meditations still remain key tenets of modern philosophy. Easy to read. The meditations are short enough to avoid information overload.

A must-read !

Great book & my daughter needed it quick. Fast delivery!

Although the Meditations is standard reading for Philosophy 101, I personally would recommend that instructors use the Discourse on Method. It contains the basic ideas in a more autobiographical context and does not delve into the minutiae of Cartesianism. As a system, Cartesianism is of interest only to the history of ideas as later scientific developments have proved. But it is obviously important in the history of Western Civ and so should be introduced in the college curriculum. My opinion is simply that instructors should consider the Discourse a more accessible text.

The book quality is fine. Pages are a little flimsy but overall it worked. I just don’t like Descartes. More holes in his meditations than swiss cheese. This is a grown man coming to the same conclusions me and my friends thought up at recess in elementary school and Descartes’ writings come off as so conceited. The critiques had more substance than the Meditations, but it was all lost with his responses.

Triangles, triangles, triangles... I might have been a bit naive when i picked up this book, but when reading the introduction my curiosity sparked over the section relating to ''Objections and Replies''. Can't say i've ever read a book, any book, where you get to read feedback via correspondence from the author. To be honest, after reading the Mediations i didn't agree with much of what Descartes was trying to put forth, particularly where he was trying to exemplify and prove the existence of God. To which much of his analogies didn't hold much strength and often confused or contorted the premise he was trying to clarify. All the same, it's not an easy thing to try to accomplish, no matter how academically skilled or religiously endowed you think you are, it's a very tough subject, and somewhat controversial matter to cover on your own, and especially try to sell it to your readers as the zenith of all evidence. Between the objectors and his own replies I kinda picture Descartes as a man who fancies himself as the majesty of all knowledge and spirituality, and those that pose proposition or conjecture be destroyed, rejected or bullied into submission. As he makes very many petty squabbles and personal stabs at his ''opponents'' in the replies, I couldn't help but look back on the Meditations as being a bit redundant the more i read through. He's certainly got a big ego, much of which is probably down to his religious conviction, but all the same i couldn't stop thinking to myself that he was one world class prick. Nevertheless, certainly made a good read. Well written, easy to follow, a very helpful and indepth introduction, as well as the ''Explanatory Notes'' at the end of the book which made the read all the more insightful. Would definitely recommend this book to others with interest in philosophy and/or metaphysics. I myself will definitely read further into Descartes as he's prompted me as a bit of a curiosity.

I rated 5 as my best friends are my read books. I just love them-books.

I read philosophy to challenge myself. As a teen I was mystified. But, in my 30's and 40's I got back into it. I am glad I did, it has expanded my ability to think critically and it has given me licence to challenge established truths. This book does those things, just not as well as I had hoped. I was attracted to it because of the baggage of controversy it carries and the unusual format(to me)it presents. The format really is the thing here. To have someone posit a theory or meditation and then open it up to scholarly critique I found fascinating. My rating is 3.5 and I would recommend this short piece of philosophy.

Good quality for reading.

Veio bem embalado e chegou na data prevista.