The Second Meditation

In Descartes' Second Meditation, he explores the nature of existence and the certainty of self-awareness. He famously concludes, "I think, therefore I am," asserting that the act of thinking is proof of one's existence. While doubting everything he knows—such as the existence of the external world—he realizes that if he is doubting, he must be thinking, and thus he must exist as a thinking being. This meditation lays the foundation for his philosophy, emphasizing the importance of doubt and thought in establishing knowledge. It highlights the distinction between mind and body, which is central to Cartesian philosophy.