ABSTRACT
Rene Descartes did not publish Meditations on First Philosophy by itself. The most serious objections concern Descartes's theology, especially his proof of the existence of God. Critics have attacked Descartes's arguments for the existence of God from various perspectives. They have also raised various important objections against Descartes's epistemology and philosophy of mind. Descartes had advanced the idea that whatever one clearly and distinctly perceives is true, which is one of the premises of his argument for the existence of God. Included in Descartes's elaborate responses to his critics is also a response to Arnauld's circularity objection. In most cases, Descartes responds to objections by clarifying the content of his text. Often he takes the opportunity to elucidate his positions, fortifying them against his critics. The extensive debates between Descartes and his critics did not result in any consensus. Descartes was more successful at formulating profound philosophical problems than with offering persuasive solutions.
