"The Discourse on Method" (René Descartes)

"The Discourse on Method" by René Descartes is a philosophical work where he outlines a new way of thinking and scientific inquiry. Descartes emphasizes the importance of doubt and questioning everything to find genuine knowledge. He advocates starting with clear, simple ideas and building upon them logically. Central to his method is the phrase "I think, therefore I am," asserting that the act of thinking is proof of one's existence. The work encourages careful reasoning, skepticism of assumptions, and a systematic approach to understanding the world, laying the foundation for modern scientific and philosophical thought.