Rene Descartes was the founding father of modern Western philosophy and a pivotal thinker in the history of this fascinating subject. The history of philosophy since his time cannot be adequately understood without appreciating how Descartes changed our thinking on a huge range of philosophical issues. Covering all the key concepts of his work, Starting with Descartes provides an accessible introduction to the ideas of this enormously significant philosopher. Thematically structured, the book leads the reader through a thorough overview of the development of Descartes’ thought, resulting in a more complete understanding of the roots of his philosophical concerns. Offering coverage of the full range of Descartes’ ideas, the book explores his major work The Meditations on First Philosophy and his basic methodology of philosophical questioning. Crucially the book introduces the historical context in which Descartes wrote and the major thinkers whose work proved influential in the development of his thought, as well as those he influenced. This is the ideal introduction for anyone coming to the work of this pivotally important thinker for the first time.