Discourse on Method and Meditations. Рене Декарт

Discourse on Method and Meditations - Рене Декарт

Is it possible to be certain of anything? If so, how? The father of modern philosophy and the founder of rational method in philosophical thought, Ren&#233; Descartes (1596&#8211;1650) sought the answers to these questions and in doing so, addressed the most important of methods of thinking and understanding truth. In <I>Discourse on Method,</I> he applies a scientific approach to philosophy that comprises four principles: to accept only what reason recognizes as «clear and distinct»; to analyze complex ideas by dividing them into smaller elements; to reconstruct the ideas; and to make accurate and complete enumerations of the data. His <I>Meditations</I> proceed according to this method, exploring the mind/body distinction, the nature of truth and error, the existence of God, and the essence of material things.