How To Cite Descartes Meditations?

Unlocking the Secrets of Citing “Meditations” by Descartes

Ah, the venerable realm of René Descartes, where the cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) reigns supreme. If you’ve dived into his seminal work, “Meditations on First Philosophy,” you know you’re in for a heady mix of introspection, skepticism, and the dawn of modern philosophy. Whether you’re crafting an academic piece or simply aiming to beef up your argument with some classical gravitas, citing Descartes is a must. But hey, before you break into a cold sweat at the thought, chill! We’ve got your back, guiding you through the maze of MLA, APA, and Chicago styles like a pro.

MLA Style: Your Go-To for Humanities

MLA, the beloved child of humanities scholars, keeps it classy and straightforward:

1. In-text citation: Simply include Descartes’ last name and the meditation number. Like this: (Descartes, Med. 3).
2. Works Cited entry: Here’s where you strut your bibliographic stuff. Lay it out as follows:
3. Descartes, René. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by John Cottingham, Cambridge University Press, 1996.

APA Style: The Psychologists’ Darling

APA style, a hit among social sciences folks, wants you to make it clear and precise:

1. In-text citation: Get down to specifics with Descartes’ last name, the year of publication, and those pithy meditation numbers in parentheses. Like so: (Descartes, 1996, Med. 3).
2. Reference list entry: Flex your format muscles a bit more here:
3. Descartes, R. (1996). Meditations on First Philosophy (J. Cottingham, Trans.). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1641)

Chicago Style: The Historical Heavyweight

Now, for the heavyweight of citation styles, favored by history buffs and the like, Chicago style enters the ring:

1. In-text citation (Author-Date): Similar to APA, but with its own twist: (Descartes 1996, Med. 3).
2. Reference list entry (Author-Date): A bit of déjà vu here for APA fans, but with that Chicago flair:
3. Descartes, René. 1996. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by John Cottingham. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Or, if you’re using the Notes and Bibliography system:

1. Footnote or Endnote: Ah, the joy of scribbling in the margins:
2. René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, trans. John Cottingham (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), Med. 3.
3. Bibliography entry: A more detailed affair, capturing all that juicy info:
4. Descartes, René. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by John Cottingham. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

There you have it, folks! With these tips, you’re now armed and ready to cite Descartes with the finesse of a seasoned academic. Whether it’s MLA, APA, or Chicago, remember, the detail’s in the devil… or was that the other way around? Anyway, happy citing!