The fact that it is I who am doubting and understanding and willing is so evident that I see no way of making it any

clearer. But it is also the case that the I who imagines is the same I. For even if, as I have supposed none of the objects of imagination are real, the power of imagination is something which really exists and is part of my thinking. Lastly, it is also the same I who has sensory perceptions, or is aware of bodily things is it were through the senses. Page 389 Analysis In this passage, Descartes is basically reasoning with himself one of his main principles to doubt everything. Descartes got to the point where he even doubted if he even existed himself. Descartes says that reality can be easily be altered since many of the beliefs that he thought were certain eventually proved to be wrong. Therefore, Descartes based everything on doubt, hoping to build knowledge again from the ground up. The main point that Descartes is trying to achieve is to find out if he even exists himself. Descartes eventually reasons with himself that he does exist using a few arguments. Descartes says that if he does not exist, how can there be an imagination. An imagination can only be true if a person is actively imaging it. He also states that if he did not exist, he would not be able to feel with his sensory perceptions. He treats this as a foolproof way and uses this method to see what else truly exists. Using this method, Descartes goes on in trying to prove that God does exist. Descartes eventually goes as far as to plug his ear, close his eyes and tried to completely stop using all his sensory perceptions to try to prove if God is real. Descartes reasons that God is too perfect to be created by his own imagination, and thus must be real. He states that God must exist because humans are an extension of God. If God didnt exist, then humans cannot exist. He says that the difference between essence and existence is that perfection is part of Gods essence and perfection is a part of existence, which means that God must be real. Cultural Comparison In the movie Unknown, starring Liam Neeson as Dr. Martin Harris, Martin loses his memory while in a fatal accident. Martin then goes on a mission in order to find out who is actually is. He starts out from scratch and builds back his identity little by little. Martin eventually discovers his old identity. This movie connects with the passage, because both Martin Harris and Descartes are trying to prove things to be real. Both Descartes and Martin Harris first try to prove that they are real themselves. Then the go on to prove that the other parts of their life are also real. Descartes goes on to prove that God is real while Martin Harris goes on to prove that his job and family is real.

Online Resources http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/descartes/meditations/Meditation2.html Rating: 5 This site has a very beneficial summary. The author from the site summarizes each paragraph in modern terms so that the reader is able to understand the meaning of the passage. In addition, the site is run by Oregon State University, so it comes from a credible source. http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/descartes/1639/meditations.htm Rating: 5 This site was the most helpful site in helping me understand Descartes mediations. The site essentially breaks down each sentence of the meditation as compared to breaking down whole paragraphs at a time. The site is also really well organized. Philosophical Dictionary
A POSTERIORI According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a posteriori is relating to or derived by reasoning of observed facts. According to Dictionary.com a posteriori is inductive reasoning from particular facts or effects to a general principle. A posteriori is the deduction of conclusions using particular facts or observed principles.

The evil genius plays the role of an extremely powerful spirit that strives to deceive people. Descartes does believe that the evil genius exists because it is needed to balance the world in order to continue the creation of doubt. 2. How does Descartes turn everyday doubt into a conceptual tool of philosophical importance? Descartes stresses that doubt is the ultimate tool to prove truths from falsities. Descartes employs this method because he learned many things that ultimately proved to be wrong when he was little. He learned that if he can use doubt to question everything, he would be able to prove what is real from what is not. 3. Are you sympathetic with Descartes desire for absolute certainty, or should we be willing to simply get

What role does the evil genius play in Descartes project? Does Descartes really believe there in an evil genius? along with probabilities? I am sympathetic with Descartes desire for absolute certainty. Some people need to be absolutely certain about things before they are willing to accept the truth.