Descartes: Discours de la Methode

Prepared by:Eileen M. PagaduanBSE42

Rene DescartesBorn: March 31, 1596Died: February 11, 1650 La Haye en Tourraine, Kingdom of FranceStockholm, Swedish EmpireNationality: FrenchEra: 17th CenturyInterest: Metaphysics, Epistemology and Mathematics

Rene Descartes

Contributions:Introduced Cartesian Coordinate SystemStudies imaginary numbers and trigonometric functionsSynthesized algebra and geometryInvented analytic geometryEspoused rationalism and dualism

Discours de la Methode

1637Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and of Seeking Truth in the SciencesJe Pence, Donc Je Suis (I think therefore I am)Cartesianism

Discours de la Methode

6 parts:1.) Various considerations touching

the sciences2.) Principal values of the method

which the author has discovered3.) Morals and maxims4.) God and soul5.) Physics, the heart and soul of the

man and animal6.) The Author

Discours de la Methode

Part 1 “ All people possess good sense”Truth form fictionElevating an average round

above the restAll people have a natural light

that can onscured through education

Discours de la Methode

Part 2Works of an individual are superior

than work in groups because individual work follows the plan.

Never believe anything unless it is prove

Reduce problem to its simplest partsOrderly in thoughts and proceed

form the simplest to difficultCreate a long chain in reasoning

(problem solving)

Discours de la Methode

Part 3Provisional moralObey rules and customsDecisive and sticks to decisionTry to change himself than the worldExamine all the professions in the

world and figure out what is best

Discours de la Methode

Part 4Existence of God and soulI think therefore I existAll good things must stem from God,

as most all clear and distinct thoughts

Discours de la Methode

Part 5 Theory of light to theory of human

anatomyHumankind’s soul is rationalSoul cannot be killed or perished

therefore soul is immortal

Discours de la Methode

Part 6 Physical scienceConflict between church and is ideasPursuing of truth and knowledge

References:

wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Descartesen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourse_on_the_Methodwww.sparknotes.com/philosophy/discoursemethod