Called "the father of modern philosophy," Descartes is one of the most influential philosophers of all time. John Cottingham examines Descartes' remarkable attempt to construct a new basis for scientific understanding along with his views on language, human and animal nature, and the place of God in science and ethics. Extracts are taken from the whole range of Descartes' writings, including the Discourse on the method, Meditations on first philosophy, Principles of philosophy, and Passions of the soul.