Summary Of Those Things That Can Be Called Into Doubt By Rene Descartes

In “Meditation One: Concerning Those Things That Can Be Called Into Doubt” Rene Descartes introduces his initial philosophical qualms, and begins to re-explore defining the foundation of his own knowledge. Though with each Meditation, Descartes initial ideas ultimately progress and evolve, this reflection will choose to analyze the First Meditation in isolation.This serves the purpose of allowing a concrete interpretation of Descartes ideas, without creating the exigence to discuss implications. Additionally, much of this interpretation will take into the account era relativism- noting the revolutionary nature of these writings for their time period. Within this Meditation, Descartes establishes a loose logical inquiry regarding the nature of consciousness. He notes there exist “no definitive signs by which to distinguish being awake from being asleep” (Descartes 41). This statement highlights the logical framework of certainty which Descartes employs in his analysis.
I interpret this statement as his premise for investigation. Without asserting this a universal truism, one can take this statement as true for the intent and purposes of exploring this line of inquiry. To elucidate, Descartes intends to
In support of a partnership between the reader and Descartes, the specific language “let us assume” proves intentional in asking the reader to walk through this process with him. Assuming a dreamlike state creates a firm bifurcation in thought, as Western society traditionally assumes a state of wakefulness whenever conscious thought occurs. However, this premise allows Descartes to assert that regardless of one's’ personal state of consciousness, other truisms exist in their traditionally accepted form. He notes “For whether I am awake or asleep, two plus three makes five” (Descartes