1. What is Descartes’ writing style/tone? How does he address the reader? Why do you think he
chooses this approach?
Descartes’ writing style and tone is both informative and analytical. He addresses his audience by
making connections to his personal experiences and referencing how he has used reason to come to his
conclusions. He chooses this approach so that he can make a call to logo, creating a way to persuade
readers by using reason.
2. Why is Descartes frustrated with the education that he received? What does he want from an
education?
Descartes is frustrated with the education that he received due to the fact that he realized he truly did not
know what he did not know. He was unhappy with the Aristotelian model he was taught under. From his
education he wanted to be able to use reason. For instance, by doubting anything that was not clearly
true he used reason to prove what he actually knew
3. In the beginning of Part II, Descartes begins to talk about architecture. Why does he do this? For
what does architecture serve as a metaphor?
In this section, Descartes makes reference to architecture because he makes allusion to the fact that his
knowledge is similar to preexisting architecture. Specifically, Descartes asserts that he had previously
learned from his Jesuit education, however, he does not want to throw away everything he previously
knew. “I firmly believed that in this way I should much better succeed in the conduct of my life, than if
I built only upon old foundations, and leaned upon principles which, in my youth, I had taken upon
trust” (9). It is only through the systematic deconstruction of all the old constructs of existence and
learning that one will be able to learn the truth. Architecture serves as a metaphor for his learning.
4. In the first paragraph of Part Four, Descartes “…reject[s] as absolutely false everything in which
[he] could have the least doubt.” What does this include?
In Part Four, Descartes argues that one ought to doubt everything. He further goes on to discredit senses
