"Six metaphysical meditations" by René Descartes is a philosophical treatise first published in Latin in 1641. Descartes systematically discards all beliefs that aren't absolutely certain, then attempts to establish what can be known for sure. Written as if meditated over six days, the work explores fundamental questions about the existence of God and the nature of the soul. Through first-person reflection, Descartes builds a new foundation for knowledge from the ground up, creating one of the most influential philosophical texts ever written.