Reviews

A Discourse on Method (Everyman's Library) by René Descartes

mariathemillennial's review against another edition

3.0

I read this book for my philosophy essay. My essay was about Descartes' other book; Meditations. However, Discourse on the Methode is an interesting background read, because in this book Descartes explains his choices and views. I'm afraid I have to disagree with his philosophy, it is based on metaphysics and religion. Still, Descartes is a leading figure in modern philosophy and that makes his ideas worth it to read and reflect upon. He had some exciting concepts, for example: to ignore all gathered knowledge so far and start from nothing, when trying to find the ultimate truth. He also emphasizes the fact that we (as human beings) have a long way to go and probably could not learn everything.

minaudible's review against another edition

3.0

Descartes es un ilustrado que se despierta un día y dice: "no sé nada sobre nada" y empieza a dudar de todo. Decide que su razón no es lo suficientemente buena como para discernir lo real de lo que no lo es. Así que se propone una tarea: dudar de todo hasta que se demuestre lo contrario.

Prepara un método que consiste en dudar de todo y no aceptar lo que no se sabe con certeza que es real. ¿Cuál es el problema? Que se salta su propio método y empieza a inventarse cosas como un campeón, entre ellas la demostración de la existencia de Dios. Su razonamiento es que, si él no es perfecto y se equivoca y su razón no es inmaculada, debe existir un ser superior a él que sí sea perfecto (Dios).

Quitando estas incoherencias, también tiene reflexiones y argumentos que me parecen muy buenos. Por no mencionar que es uno de los pilares del pensamiento occidental (y de la ciencia). Me ha gustado leer este libro.

jeannepiou's review against another edition

4.0

Yeah this guy knew his shit.

But I’m NOT getting over how uncomsumerably (that’s a word in French I don’t care if it doesn’t exist in English) full of himself he is. You won’t make me forget that, René.

Four stars, duh.

gvolpatolima's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

carter__nicholas's review

3.0

100th book

arcyeus's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A lot of padding at the start and end but generally there was a comprehensive attempt at establishing Absolute Truth through Rationalism and the 'Method'. The most sound claims were cogito ergo sum and the existence of God. Due to the state of the scientific world in the 17th century though, the biological claims that follow (which attempt to establish communication, language and the soul as God-given) no longer hold. Nevertheless, he's explicitly stated, multiple times, that he is not attempting to be didactic, rather sharing his experience for the betterment of humanity. He would have hoped the reader with cutting-edge scientific knowledge would take his arguments further.

dianafbpereira's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

romantiques's review against another edition

4.0

“...the perusal of all excellent books is, as it were, to interview with the noblest men of past ages, who have written them.”

all the artery talk made my head hurt a little

ruda_'s review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

isirla's review against another edition

3.0

At  70%: I don't agree with Descartes whatsoever, his "truths" were based on his religious beliefs - a victim of his time.

After finishing: I actually finished his works and had to give the guy 3 stars. If I removed the "God talk", it made sense.