“Meditation

    In “Meditation 1,” Rene Descartes casts doubt on all ideas of sensation (ideas believed a posteriori, or after experience) and all analytic ideas (ideas believed a priori, or before experience). What is an example of each kind of idea, and what is Descartes’ argument for why each can be doubted? In “Meditation 2,” Descartes argues that he can’t doubt his own existence. How would you describe the “I” that certainly exists? In “Meditation 3,” Descartes sets out to prove the existence of God. Describe in your own words his argument for why God necessarily exists? Do you think it’s a good argument and why? In “Meditation 4,” Descartes tries to understand what the source of his errors is (why does he have false or potentially false beliefs in the first place). What does he consider to be the source of his errors?