Descartes

            Descartes" writing his Meditations on First Philosophy in a first-person format is essential to the potential success of his argument. In effect, the Meditations are written as a guide - there is nothing within the text that any other human being could not come across, making Descartes" "tools" accessible to all. By describing the process he went through, Descartes guides the way for the reader to follow the same thought process. Descartes provides everything the reader needs to know to follow his argument within the text, never drawing on outside philosophy. All the evidence Descartes draws upon to make his point comes from general life experiences, or innate knowledge. Thus, Descartes promotes the first-person structure of the Meditations as a guide to discovering for oneself the existence of God. Additionally, the first person format is in fact completely necessary in order to prove one of the main premises of Descartes" argument, "I think, therefore I am", an idea derived from within his second meditation. .
             While most philosophers title written compilations of their thoughts treatises or discourses, Descartes titled this particular piece Meditations to emphasize to the reader the cooperative nature of the work. Instead of simply preaching to the reader, Descartes wants the reader to meditate with him while he is reading the book, thus making the reader feel that Descartes" ideas are also his own ideas. Thus the reader will be more easily convinced of Descartes" argument since he feels that it is partly his own.
             In the very beginning of the Meditations Descartes invites his readers into the comfort of his home - he introduces an arm chair, a fire, and the examination of his hand and the senses, all objects and ideas that any reader may easily relate to. By using these everyday ideas as his basis, it is quite simple for readers to relate to Descartes and join him in his meditations.