A Discourse on the Method (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Renďż1/2 Descartes (Author), Ian Maclean (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0192825143 | ISBN-13: 978-0192825148

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 A detailed section of notes explain Descartes' philosophical terminology and ideas, as well as historical references and allusions.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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...what sets this edition apart is its substantial introduction...its copious explanatory notes...The translation is clean and clear. Overall the work is to be recommended. Roger Ariew, Modern Languages Review, vol 102, part 1 'The care and accuracy of Ian Maclean's new translation are immediately apparentThis edition is remarkable for the ample introductory material which will be of great use to beginners and specialists alike[it] displays impeccable erudition and exemplary clarity.' s The challenge for any translator, as Maclean acknowledges, is to make it accessible to a new generation of readers, without anachronism if possible. This objective is achieved admirably in this edition by informed and confident choices in English...and the addition of explanatory notes when necessary. French Studies

About the Author

Ian Maclean is a Professor of Renaissance Studies, University of Oxford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192825143
• ISBN-13: 978-0192825148
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #932,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cogito Cogito ergo Cogito Sum, April 13, 2006

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George R Dekle "Bob Dekle" (Lake City, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Discourse on the Method (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Ambrose Bierce said that the title of this review is as close to certainty as any philosopher can get. Descartes, of course, thought he got a lot closer than that. Two things are certain about this edition of his "Discourse." 1. They got the title right. Most editions call it "Discourse on Method." Descartes thought he had the only method, therefore he titled his work "Discourse on THE Method." 2. A tremendous amount of scholarship was devoted to this edition. The introduction is longer than the text, and the work is heavily annotated.

Descartes' work consists of six parts, which can be summarized thus:

Part 1: Descartes echoes the opening chapters of Ecclesiastes in lamenting that learning and worldly experience are empty. He then says that when he achieved this realization, he devoted himself to introspection.

Part 2: He outlines his method of introspection as follows: 1. Accept nothing that is not incontrovertible. 2. Break large problems down into their component parts. 3. Solve the easier components before tackling the more complex components. 4. Be careful to be thorough in your assessment of the problem.

Part 3: He outlines his plan for a life of virtue: 1. Obey the laws of God and man, but do so in moderation. 2. Be firm and resolute in your actions, whether right or wrong. He would have approved of my high school football coach, who taught us, "If you're going to make a mistake, make it at full speed." 3. Master yourself, not your circumstances. 4. Pursue the best of occupations. Descartes decided that the best of occupations was that of the curious idler. He formulated these maxims at age 23 and spent the next 9 years idling curiously and introspecting.

Part 4: The core of the work. Here Descartes begins by rejecting as untrue everything that he has ever been taught. Assuming that as a given, what can he know for a fact? "I think, therefore I am." From this dictum he deduces the the existence and immortality of the human soul, the existence and nature of God, and the nature of reality. His proof of God's existence reminds one of St. Anselm's ontological proof of God.

Parts 5 & 6: The weakest part of the work. Here Descartes describes a book he wrote in which he solved all the problems of the universe. He then explains that he decided not to publish it because somebody might find mistakes in it. If his description of how the heart works is any indication of the accuracy of the rest of his book, he was quite correct that mistakes would be found by others. He then talks about other books he actually published more or less at the same time as this work.

Parts 1-3 seem somewhat trite and arrogant. Parts 5 & 6 reveal a man whose ego cannot stand being shown to be wrong. Part 4 is brilliant and worth the tedium of the rest of the book.