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Discourse on Method and Accompanying Essays
In one of the very first non-Latin works of philosophy, Descartes argued that the natural light of reason would allow everyone to distinguish truth from fiction. The Accompanying Essays:
Dioptrics- Descartes derives his Law of Refraction
Meteorology- Descartes explains the rainbow
Geometry- Expose of Descartes' Analytic Geometry Descartes, Rene. Discourse On Method And Meditations. 1637. -
Meditations on First Philosophy
This work is known for introducing Rene Descartes's Methodic Doubt. This philosophy requires one to systematically reject or doubt every belief or thought, as they are deceiving, in order to find certainty. In Meditations, Descartes accepts that the only thing to be certain is one who thinks. "Cogito,sum." (I think, I am.) Descartes, Rene. Meditations On First Philosophy. 1641. -
Principles of Philosophy: Cartesian Dualism
Mind-Body Dualism is Descartes' philosophy stating that the mind and body, though they are entirely different in substance, can in fact interact with each other. This philosophy is the basis for Descartes' argument for free will. Descartes, Rene. Principles Of Philosophy. 1644. -
The World
Rene Descartes applies his Theory of Sense Perception to the mechanistic view of philosophy. He argues that light is a property of particles' motion. Along with this, he theorized visual perception of spatial properties in relation to size, shape, distance and position. Descartes, Rene. The World. 1644.
