Philosophy 101
Study Questions:  Descartes, Meditations I and II


1.  Descartes writes early on in the First Meditation that his goal is the "general demolition of
       [his] opinions" (13).  What exactly is he trying to do in this meditation, and why in the
       world is he trying to do it?

2.  Descartes concludes toward the end of the First Meditation that "there is nothing among the
        things I once believed to be true which it is not permissible to doubt" (16).  How does he
        defend this conclusion?  Try to set out the argument he provides.  Can you see any
        potential flaw in the argument?  [Are any of the premises questionable?]

3.  In the Second Meditation, Descartes says that he will try to find "just one thing, however
       slight, that is certain and unshaken" (17).  What does he find?  How does he defend
       the claim that he knows this one truth with complete certainty?

4.  Descartes makes note of all kinds of properties and abilities that he tends to associate with
       his existence (e.g., that he has a body, can move, etc.).  What does he conclude is most
       essential to his existence?  How does he explain and defend this view?

5.  Later in the Second Meditation, Descartes considers the case of a particular piece of wax.
       What point is he trying to prove with this example?  How does he try to prove it?