Summary

Narrating his meditations in first-person, Descartes reflects on how even his most firmly-held beliefs have turned out to be false. In order to have certain belief and gain scientific knowledge, therefore, he must begin from the most basic elements of thought and build a secure foundation for knowledge. For many years, he has put this project off, since he did not think he had the maturity and wisdom necessary to complete it. But today, he has secluded himself, emptied his mind, and decided to embark on the task.

As such, Descartes decides to suspend his belief in every piece of knowledge which he cannot prove is beyond doubt. First, he reasons that a large part of his knowledge is based on what he derives from the senses. Yet often, the senses are faulty; we think we see something far away even though nothing...