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What is Discourse on the Method about?

“I think, therefore I am.” Descartes rebuilds knowledge from doubt in the founding text of modern philosophy.

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  1. 1The Universality of Good Sense
  2. 2Isolation and Reflection
  3. 3Constructing a Provisional Moral Code
  4. 4The Method of Doubt
  5. 5The Certainty of Self-Existence
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Illustration from Discourse on the Method
The Universality of Good Sense

Descartes begins by asserting that good sense, or reason, is equally distributed among all individuals. Despite varying opinions, he believes that everyone possesses the…

Isolation and Reflection

During a period of solitude in Germany, Descartes reflects on the nature of perfection in various fields. He observes that works created by a single master tend to be mor…

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René Descartes

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