The Cartesian Meditations

"The Cartesian Meditations" by René Descartes is a philosophical work exploring the nature of knowledge and existence. Descartes uses careful reasoning to doubt everything possible, aiming to find a foundation of certainty. He concludes that the very act of doubting confirms his existence as a thinking being ("I think, therefore I am"). This insight becomes the starting point for understanding reality and knowledge. The work also discusses how the mind and body are separate, and how clear, rational thought can lead to true understanding, laying the groundwork for modern philosophy and science.