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YouTube

René Descartes - Meditation - The Method of Doubt

Jeffrey Kaplan via YouTube

Overview

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Explore René Descartes' first Meditation on First Philosophy in this 41-minute philosophy lecture. Delve into Descartes' method of doubt, examining how he systematically questions his beliefs and basic principles. Discover the concepts of dream skepticism and malicious demon skepticism as Descartes attempts to establish a foundation for certain knowledge. Follow along as the lecture breaks down the meditation's structure, including Descartes' plan for all six meditations, his execution of doubt, and the process of wiping clean previous beliefs. Gain insights into the philosopher's approach to questioning reality and the nature of knowledge through this in-depth analysis of a seminal work in Western philosophy.

Syllabus

Introduction
Probably True
The Method
Basic Principles
Doubt
Page Numbers
Descartes Doubts
The Creature
The Lingering Principle

Taught by

Jeffrey Kaplan

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