 That Ground Breaking Essay That Few Have Heard of is Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes
When you think of ground breaking works of literature or the arts, few manuscripts pass the test as being books that literally changed everything and that continue to have an effect on how we see the world today. The Bible might pass that test and some of the documents from the founding of the country have that influence in their own way. But one that continues to cause waves of influence throughout society is one that many people have never heard of. It is Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes.
If you were to mention Meditations on First Philosophy or even the name of it's philosopher/author Descartes at a party or a gathering of your friends, odds are that few would know the references. But most famous quote from Meditations on First Philosophy would be instantaneously recognizable. That famous quotes is, "I think. Therefore I am." The power of that phrase to endure and continue to find resonance over 300 years since Meditations on First Philosophy was penned is witness to the timelessness of this phenomenal philosophical essay.
Too often, that most famous quote from Meditations on First Philosophy, "I think. Therefore I am" is used frivolously and adapted for humorous purposes. The odds are that if you heard such abuse of that philosophical concept, the sinner would have no idea what the phrase really means or that it came from Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy. That is why taking the time to read this amazing essay is a must for anyone who seriously wants to understand what Descartes is talking about and why Meditations on First Philosophy is such a seminal work for our modern worldview.
The core of what makes that famous quote so compelling are those final two words, "I am". That is a clue to the heart of the philosophical conflict and struggle that Descartes takes on throughout the six primary sections of Meditations on First Philosophy. Descartes courageously takes on a challenge that only a wise and educated philosopher can grapple with. That issue is the fundamental understanding of truth and reality.
Early in Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes lays the groundwork by justifying our fundamental right to bring doubt on all aspects of how we understand our existence. That permission to doubt is even extended later in Meditations on First Philosophy to doubting the very existence of God. Before Descartes gets to that reflection though, he casts serious doubt on our ability to know reality based on what the senses report. This puts the struggle to understand truth squarely in the realm of intellect. But we are fortunate because in Meditations on First Philosophy, we have the best guide possible for an intellectual quest for truth and that guide is Descartes himself.
Meditations on First Philosophy is a "must read" for educated peoples. But before you set out to understand this breakthrough philosophical work, there are some steps of preparation that will aid in your ability to get the most out of reading Meditations on First Philosophy. First, be prepared to read the essay slowly and to stop and reflect on what you are reading. Meditations on First Philosophy is not "easy reading". To understand the impeccable logic Descartes uses, take your time and read again any section that seems confusing at first.
Also, be aware that Meditations on First Philosophy is a work of philosophy. Even though Descartes touches on themes that could influence how you view religion and even science, his logical processes are firmly grounded in philosophy. If you stay in that realm with him, Meditations on First Philosophy may be one of the most illuminating essays you will ever read. And when you have thoroughly read and understood what Descartes set out to achieve and finally does achieve in defining the nature of truth and reality, that phrase, "I think. Therefore I am" will take on a whole new and rich meaning for you.
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