Descartes' Discourse marks a watershed in European thought; in it, the author sets out in brief his radical
new philosophy, which begins with a proof of the existence of the self (the famous "cogito ergo sum").
Next he deduces from it the existence and nature of God, and ends by offering a radical new account of the physical
world and of human and animal nature. Written in everyday language and meant to be read by common people of the
day, it swept away all previous philosophical traditions.
This new translation is an ideal introduction to Descartes for the general reader. It is accompanied by a substantial
introductory essay from Renaissance scholar Ian Maclean that is designed to provide in-depth historical and philosophical
context. The essay draws on Descartes' correspondence to examine what brought him to write his great work, and
the impact it had on his contemporaries. A detailed section of notes explain Descartes' philosophical terminology
and ideas, as well as historical references and allusions. Any reader can feel comfortable diving in to this classic
work of Renaissance philosophical thought.