Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen: The Defense of Reason in Descartes's Meditations

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller On Bullshit, a landmark account of Descartes, reason, and truth

In this classic work, philosopher and bestselling author Harry Frankfurt provides a compelling analysis of the question that not only lies at the heart of Descartes's Meditations, but also constitutes the central preoccupation of modern philosophy: on what basis can reason claim to provide any justification for the truth of our beliefs? Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen provides an ingenious account of Descartes's defense of reason against his own famously skeptical doubts that he might be a madman, dreaming, or, worse yet, deceived by an evil demon into believing falsely.

Frankfurt's masterful and imaginative reading of Descartes's seminal work not only stands the test of time; one imagines Descartes himself nodding in agreement.

© 2009 Princeton University Press (Ebook): 9781400828180

Release date

Ebook: January 10, 2009