Descartes' Philosophy

In Discourse on Methnd, Descartes prnmulgates four basic laws that he believes should be the root of all learning, whether scientific or religious. The first and most important law is "To accept nothing as true that is not recognized by the reason as clear and distinct" (Discourse, I). The most important thing about this law is its focus on ideas and reason or the subjective impressions of the human intellect. It is impossible for a human being to break the world into anything smaller than an idea, and thus the ultimate principle of truth, according to Descartes, is the clearness of an idea.

In his search for the truth, Descartes decides "that I ought to reject as absolutely false all in regard to which I could suppose the least ground for doubt, in order to ascertain whether after that there remained aught in my belief that was wholly indubitable" (Discourse, I). In his Meditations, Descartes decides to explore this idea to its logical conclusion and to explore the lengths to which one can doubt. One c