Discourse on Method

"Discourse on Method," written by René Descartes in 1637, is a philosophical work that outlines a new approach to knowledge and understanding. Descartes emphasizes the importance of doubt and critical thinking, proposing that we should question everything we believe until we find undeniable truths. He famously summarizes this idea with "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), asserting that the very act of thinking proves one’s existence. His method involves breaking complex problems into simpler parts, leading to a more precise understanding of the world, laying the groundwork for modern scientific and philosophical inquiry.