Rene Descartes (1596-1650) had a short working life, and his output was small, yet his contributions to philosophy and science have endured. This book shows that Descartes was, above all, an advocate and practitioner of a new mathematical approach to physics, and that he developed his metaphysics to support his programme in the sciences.

Originally published: Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1987, in series: Past masters.

Matter and Metaphysics -- The discovery of a vocation -- One science one method -- 'Absolutes', simple natures, and problems -- Roaming about in the world -- Paris -- The suppressed physics -- Three specimens of a method -- A new 'logic' -- The need for metaphysics -- The meditations -- Doubt without scepticism? -- The theologians and the God of physics -- Ideas -- The mind -- Body -- The physics made public -- The 'other science' -- Last days -- Descartes's ghost -- Further readings -- Index.