Cover of Selections from the Principles of Philosophy

Selections from the Principles of Philosophy

by René Descartes

Reading level
Fairly demanding
Price
Free

About the book

"Selections from the Principles of Philosophy" by René Descartes is a philosophical work published in 1644. It synthesizes Descartes' earlier writings to present a comprehensive system of metaphysics and natural philosophy. The work establishes fundamental principles of nature and physics, including the revolutionary concept that objects move uniformly in straight lines without external forces. Intended to replace Aristotelian teachings in universities, it offers the first complete mechanistic explanation of the universe, built upon Descartes' metaphysical foundations.

  • Philosophy

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #4391. Selections from the Principles of Philosophy on Wikipedia.

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