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Discourse on the Method is a philosophical and autobiographical treatise published by René Descartes in 1637. It is best known as the source of the famous quotation "Je pense, donc je suis" (I think, therefore I am), which occurs in Part IV of the work.
Discourse on the Method is one of the most influential works in the history of modern philosophy, and important to the development of natural sciences. In this work, Descartes tackles the problem of skepticism, which had previously been studied by other philosophers. While addressing some of his predecessors and contemporaries, Descartes modified their approach to account for a truth he found to be incontrovertible; he started his line of reasoning by doubting everything, so as to assess the world from a fresh perspective, clear of any preconceived notions.
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René Descartes, born on March 31, 1596, in La Haye en Touraine, France, was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is often regarded as the father of modern philosophy due to his influential works that departed from traditional scholasticism. Descartes' approach emphasized reason and individual thought, laying the groundwork for the Enlightenment.In 1637, Descartes published Discourse on the Method, introducing his famous dictum, "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum). This work outlined his method of systematic doubt and is considered a foundational text in Western philosophy. His contributions to mathematics include the development of Cartesian geometry, which bridged algebra and geometry.Descartes spent much of his later life in the Dutch Republic, engaging with prominent intellectuals of the time. In 1641, he released Meditations on First Philosophy, further exploring metaphysics and the nature of existence. Descartes passed away on February 11, 1650, in Stockholm, Sweden, leaving a lasting legacy in both philosophy and science.
