A DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD

Descartes' Discourse marks a watershed in European thought; in it, the author se
ts out in brief his radical new philosophy, which begins with a proof of the exi
stence of the self (the famous "cogito ergo sum"). Next he deduces from it the e
xistence and nature of God, and ends by offering a radical new account of the ph
ysical world and of human and animal nature. Written in everyday language and me
ant to be read by common people of the day, it swept away all previous philosoph
ical traditions. This new translation is an ideal introduction to Descartes for
the general reader. It is accompanied by a substantial introductory essay from R
enaissance scholar Ian Maclean that is designed to provide in-depth historical a
nd philosophical context.