When did Descartes write meditations?

Diving Deep into Descartes’ Meditations: When Did This Masterpiece Emerge?

René Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy – it’s a title that can sound intimidating, right? But trust me, this book is a cornerstone of Western thought, and it’s worth understanding when it all came together. The Meditations first saw the light of day in Latin back in 1641. Think of it as Descartes fleshing out ideas he’d only hinted at in his earlier Discourse on Method from 1637. Later, in 1647, Descartes himself oversaw a French translation, Méditations Métaphysiques, ensuring his ideas reached an even wider audience.

So, when did Descartes actually put pen to paper? Well, he started crafting the Meditations around 1639. Now, Descartes wasn’t working in a vacuum. He was smart; he knew the value of feedback. He ran his ideas by some of the brightest minds of the time – folks like Antoine Arnauld, Pierre Gassendi, and even Thomas Hobbes – thanks to his connection with Marin Mersenne. Imagine getting that kind of brainpower to review your work! The first edition in 1641 included not just Descartes’ thoughts, but also six sets of objections from these intellectual heavyweights, along with Descartes’ equally sharp replies. A year later, in 1642, a second edition appeared, adding a seventh round of objections and answers, plus a letter to Father Dinet where Descartes defended his ideas against accusations of being, shall we say, a bit out there.

What’s so special about Meditations on First Philosophy? In it, Descartes takes a long, hard look at the very foundations of what we know, what’s real, and who we are. He uses this method of radical doubt, questioning everything he thinks he knows to find solid ground for knowledge. This is where we get that famous line, “Cogito, ergo sum” – “I think, therefore I am.” It’s a powerful statement about the self. From there, Descartes goes on to argue for the existence of God and the difference between our minds and bodies.

The book is laid out as if Descartes spent six days in deep thought, each meditation building on the last. It’s like he’s taking you on a philosophical journey, step by step. Descartes really wanted to lay a new metaphysical foundation for his physics. He aimed to overturn what he considered old prejudices, some dating back two thousand years to Aristotle, that had become ingrained in Western thought. It was a bold move, and it’s why the Meditations still sparks debate and discussion today.