René Descartes on reason
René Descartes (1596–1650) approaches reason within Rationalism. The cogito identifies thinking as indubitable; he distinguished thinking substance from extended substance and defended clear and distinct ideas. Systematically, the teaching links method, mind, mathematics into a practical and theoretical whole. On this page, the archive isolates English passages where that project meets reason most directly—useful for searches such as “rené descartes quotes on reason.”
How to use this page
Start with the shortest passage, then compare tone across sources. Return to the René Descartes thinker page for biography and to the reason theme for other voices on the same question.
Frequently asked
What did René Descartes say about reason?
The quotations below are the archive’s curated answer: English renderings selected for clarity and attribution, not a complete corpus.
Where else should I read after rené descartes on reason?
Related themes: Philosophy , Self , Knowledge , Freedom , Life , Wisdom .