Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy presents René Descartes’s two most important philosophical works. The Discourse offers a concise presentation and defense of Descartes’s method of intellectual inquiry—a method that greatly influenced both philosophical and scientific reasoning in the early modern world.

Considered a foundational text in modern philosophy, the Meditations presents numerous compelling arguments that continue to influence debates in epistemology, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of religion. Descartes’s timeless writing strikes a unique balance of novelty and familiarity, offering arguments concerning knowledge, science, and metaphysics (including the famous “I think, therefore I am”) that are as influential today as they were in the seventeenth century.

This edition, featuring Ian Johnston’s translations, is modern, clear, and thoroughly annotated, making it ideal for readers unfamiliar with Descartes’s intellectual context. An approachable introduction engages both the historical and philosophical aspects of the text, helping the reader understand the concepts and arguments contained therein.