Publication of Descartes' Meditations

Timeline

1. 1639–1640Netherlands, near Leiden · NetherlandsDuring his sojourn in the Netherlands, Descartes completed the manuscript of the Meditations on First Philosophy, systematically proposing to set aside all doubtful knowledge through methodic doubt and then rebuild certain knowledge; the core proposition 'Cogito ergo sum' is fully expounded in this book.
2. 1640–1641Paris / Netherlands · FranceThrough the priest Marin Mersenne, Descartes circulated the manuscript among several philosophers, theologians, and scientists to gather written objections, including Thomas Hobbes, Antoine Arnauld, and Pierre Gassendi. Descartes wrote detailed replies to each set; all were included as an appendix in the official edition, forming the distinctive 'Meditations–Objections–Replies' dialogue format.
3. 1641Paris · FranceThe Meditations on First Philosophy was officially published in Paris by the printer Michel Soly, with six sets of objections from philosophers and theologians and Descartes' replies, all written in Latin. It quickly sparked widespread discussion in European scholarly circles, establishing the core framework of modern epistemology and dualist philosophy.