Rene Descartes has been described as the "father" of modern philosophy. This selection of Descartes' writings attempt to answer central questions surrounding self, God, free-will and knowledge, using the science of thought as opposed to received wisdom based on the tenets of faith.

Rene Descartes (1569-1650), the 'father' of modern philosophy, is without doubt one of the greatest thinkers in history: his genius lies at the core of our contemporary intellectual identity. Breaking with the conventions of his own time and suffering persecution by the Church as a consequence, Descartes in his writings - most of which are philosophical classics - attempted to answer the central questions surrounding the self, God, free-will and knowledge, using the science of thought as opposed to received wisdom based on the tenets of faith.

This edition, the most comprehensive one - volume selection of Descartes' works available in English, includes his great essay, Discourse on Method.

INTRODUCTION:

 Descartes' Life and the Evolution of his Philosophy

RULES FOR. THE DIRECTION OF THE MIND (Extracts)

 RULE ONE

 RULE TWO

 RULE THREE

 RULE FOUR

 RULE FIVE

 RULE SIX

 RULE SEVEN

 RULE EIGHT

 RULE NINE

 RULE TEN

 RULE ELEVEN

 RULE TWELVE

 RULE THIRTEEN

 RULE FOURTEEN

DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD

 PART ONE

 PART TWO

 PART THREE

 PART FOUR

 PART FIVE

 PART SIX

MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY

 Dedicatory Letter to the Sorbonne

 Preface to the Reader

 Synopsis of the Six Following Meditations

 FIRST MEDITATION:

Of the things as to which we may doubt

 SECOND MEDITATION:

Of the nature of the human mind

 THIRD MEDITATION:

Of God's existence

 FOURTH MEDITATION:

Of the true and the false

 FIFTH MEDITATION:

Of the essence of material things

 SIXTH MEDITATION:

Of the existence of material things, etc.

OBJECTIONS AND REPLIES (Extracts)

PRINCIPLES OF PHILOSOPHY (Extracts)

 Author's Letter-Preface

 Dedicatory Letter to Elizabeth

 FIRST PART: Of the Principles of Human Knowledge

 SECOND PART: Of the Principles of Material Things

 THIRD PART: Of the Visible World

 FOURTH PART: Of the Earth

NOTES DIRECTED AGAINST A CERTAIN PROGRAMME

THE PASSIONS OF THE SOUL (Extracts)

THE SEARCH AFTER TRUTH