Considered a foundational text in modern philosophy, the Meditations on First Philosophy presents numerous powerful arguments that to this day influence debates in epistemology, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of religion. This new translation incorporates revisions from the second Latin edition (1642) and the later French translation (1647) to make Descartes' reasoning as lucid and engaging as possible.

Also included in this edition is a brief introduction to Descartes and the Meditations, revised and expanded from Andrew Bailey's acclaimed anthology, First Philosophy. The introduction helps the reader to understand the context and purpose of Descartes' project without over-explaining his arguments.