The Meditations begins with a dedication, a preface, and a synopsis (pp. 47-56). We will not discuss those to any extent, though they can be useful in setting the context for the first meditation (pp. 59-63). And, although that meditation is quite short, there will be plenty to discuss in it alone.
• In Meditation 1, Descartes engages in the process of doubt that he describes at the beginning of part 4 of the Discourse. This process occurs in several stages and you should note them as read. Think about both what is doubted at each stage and how he manages to doubt these things.
• Think also about the process as a whole, what is going on and what is accomplished. Descartes will later refer to this doubt as “hyperbolic.” Is he right? Does this characterization as exaggerated apply to all the doubt he describes in the meditation? If not, where would you draw the line. Also, is this real doubt? At one point in part 4 of the Discourse, he speaks of pretending to doubt. If that is all this is, has he really succeeded in tearing down his old house of beliefs? And, if not, has he done anything at all? And if he is not pretending but the doubt is somehow excessive, the exercise a useful one?