Meditationes de prima philosophia

Preface

...achieve original: "consequi" [reconstructed from the suffix "-gi"]; to attain or earn applause, nor do I expect a crowd of readers. Indeed, I do not advise anyone to read this unless they are able and willing to meditate seriously with me, and to withdraw their mind from their senses and from all prejudices original: "praeiudiciis"; in this context, it refers to preconceived notions or biases formed before rational investigation at the same time. I know well enough that very few such people will be found.

As for those who do not care to understand the sequence and connection of my arguments, but instead seek only to quibble over individual phrases—as is the habit of many—they will not gain much benefit from reading this work. Although they might find opportunities for nitpicking in many places, they will not easily raise any objection that has real force or is worthy of a reply.

However, I do not promise even to others that I will satisfy them in everything at first glance. I do not presume so much as to be confident that I can foresee everything that someone might find difficult. Therefore, I will first set out in these Meditations original: "Meditationibus"; here Descartes refers to a specific genre of writing intended to lead the reader through a transformative series of mental exercises those very thoughts by which I believe I have reached a certain and evident knowledge of the truth original: "cognitionem veritatis". I do this to see whether I might, by these same [arguments]...