Discourse on the Method

René Descartes’ Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and of Seeking Truth in the Sciences (originally published in 1637 as Discours de la méthode) is one of the most influential works in the history of Western philosophy and a cornerstone of modern rational thought.

Part autobiographical, part philosophical treatise, this work lays the foundation for Cartesian doubt—the method of questioning everything in order to arrive at indisputable truths. It is here that Descartes introduces the iconic phrase, “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito ergo sum), a declaration that continues to resonate across disciplines and centuries.

Originally intended as a preface to his scientific works Géométrie, Météores, and Dioptrique, Discourse on the Method stands as a complete and profound meditation on reason, scepticism, and the pursuit of knowledge. Descartes challenges accepted truths, dismantling preconceived notions to rebuild understanding from the ground up—one certainty at a time.

This bilingual edition presents the full original French text alongside its English translation, making it ideal for scholars, students, and readers interested in philosophy, logic, and the origins of scientific thought.