Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy

This volume presents new translations of René Descartes's two most influential philosophical works: the Discourse on Method and the Meditations on First Philosophy. The Discourse introduces Descartes's method of intellectual inquiry, which has profoundly influenced both philosophical and scientific reasoning since the early modern era. The Meditations delves into debates in epistemology, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of religion, offering timeless arguments that remain compelling today./n/n Descartes's writing strikes an uncommon balance of novelty and familiarity, with arguments concerning knowledge, science, and metaphysics that are as relevant in the twenty-first century as they were in the seventeenth. The translations by Ian Johnston are modern, clear, and thoroughly annotated, making them accessible to readers unfamiliar with Descartes's intellectual context. An approachable introduction helps readers understand the historical and philosophical aspects of the text.