Discours des Methodes

The term &quote;method&quote; of realist phenomenology and philosophy can refer to three kinds of things which are being explored extensively in this work: (1) Kinds of philosophical knowledge used to return to things themselves: intellectual &quote;vision&quote; of necessary intelligible essences, insights into necessary states of affairs, knowledge of less than necessary essences, knowledge of existence as such, of the ego cogitans and of a concretely existing world, other persons, and the absolute being, deductive forms of reasoning, and others. (2) Ways to achieve such knowledge: such as various types of distinctions, asking proper questions, correct use of analogies, and replies to objections. (3) Finally, these methods include several &quote;tricks&quote; and devices such as methodic doubt and epoche; these are subordinated to the other methods, and neither necessary nor universal tools of all philosophical knowledge.