Principles of Philosophy
by René Descartes · Principia Philosophiae
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- 1644
- Form
- Treatise
- Language
- Latin
- Length
- Long · 320 pp300 to 700 pages
- Difficulty
- Difficult4 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendPrinciples of Philosophy, translated by Valentine Rodger Miller and Reese P. MillerKluwer, 1991The only complete English translation of all four parts, with the notes a first reader needs.
These links go straight to Amazon and Bookshop.org and earn this site nothing today. Prices are the same either way. How this works.
Descartes's textbook, written to replace the Aristotle taught in the schools. Part one restates the metaphysics of the Meditations in short numbered articles. Part two argues that matter is nothing but extension, that there is no void, and states the laws of motion and the conservation of quantity of motion. Part three builds a universe of vortices, with the planets carried around the sun by a swirling fluid and stars as the centres of other systems. Part four explains the earth, magnetism, fire, glass and the senses on the same mechanical principles.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Principles of Philosophy are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.