The past decade has seen a rapid growth in interest in Descartes' thought, and especially in the relationship between his philosophical and scientific work. The essays in this volume, none of which has been published in English before (three have been published in French) represent the best current work on Descartes' philosophy and science, with contributions from an international roster of leading Descartes scholars, including Alan Gabbey, Jean-Marie Beyssade Gary Hatfield, Margaret Wilson, Willis Doney, Daniel Garber, Edwin Curley, and Jean-Luc Marion.

The essays range over what Descartes himself regarded as his major contributions: metaphysics, physics, and their applications for the benefit of human beings. Written and edited to be accessible to the non-specialist, the volume should prove useful for courses and seminars on the work of Descartes.