Discourse on Method, Parts V and VI

In the second half (Parts V and VI) of Discourse on Method [1637] Descartes gives his views on natural philosophy and his criteria for advancing the investigation of nature.

In Part V, Descartes sketches how in an unpublished treatise (published posthumously as Le Monde) he had laid out his ideas regarding the laws of nature, the sun and stars, the moon as the cause of the tides, gravitation, light, and heat. To avoid theological controversy, Descartes frames his mechanistic laws of nature as applying to a theoretical "new world" created by God. This hypothetical world would be a deistic universe.

In Part VI, Descartes admits his hesitation about publishing his work. But since people have begun to hear of the work, he felt compelled to publish small parts of it so that people do not wonder why he doesn't publish. Descartes says scientific experimentation is time-consuming, hard to delegate – and essential. He asks readers to test the claims in Dioptrique, Météores, and Géométrie and send their feedback to his publisher, with a promise to publish the questions with his replies.

Please read Parts V and VI of Descartes’ Discourse on Method (*.pdf pages 36 – 66.) The reading is a little over 11,000 words and will take an hour or so to read.

Other resources (not required):

Audiobook: Rene Descartes – Discourse on the Method (Full Audiobook). Part V begins here. Parts V and VI have a running time of just over 70 minutes.

Video: Descartes’s Theory of Knowledge (Part 1: Discourse on the Method). Part V begins at about 7:20.

Two study guides with useful information are CourseHero and Chapterly.

Discourse on the Method | Philopedia – a thorough and detailed overview of the Discourse. If you like deep dives, this article does not disappoint.

Another translation of Discourse on Method includes an Interpretive Essay from the translator Richard Kennington.

SparkNotes has an entry for the Discourse – you may find their information useful.

We look forward to seeing you.