“I concluded that I was a substance whose whole essence or nature is only in thought and which, in order to exist, does not need space and does not depend on any material entity.”

Descartes' work “Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One's Reason and Seeking Truth in the Sciences” marks a significant turning point in European thought. In it, the author provides an informal intellectual autobiography in the vernacular for a non-specialized readership, distancing himself from all previous philosophical traditions and succinctly presenting his radical new philosophy, which begins with the proof of the existence of the self (the famous “cogito ergo sum”), then deduces the existence and nature of God, and concludes by offering a radical new account of the natural world and the nature of humans and animals.

This new translation is accompanied by an extensive introductory essay that analyzes Descartes' correspondence, examining his motivations and the impact of this important work on his contemporaries. Detailed notes explain his philosophical terminology and ideas.

Pages: 160, Dimensions: 12.8x12.8cm