Descartes is well known for his decisive and spectacular break with the philosophical tradition. Indeed, on account of that break, he is frequently reputed to be the  father of modern philosophy.  This reputation, in an important sense, seems deserved.  The present collection, however, attempts to reevaluate the currency of this common opinion by attending to the impact of  Cartesianism  on philosophy from its immediate epicenter in 17th century science and metaphysics up to its continuing consequences today. In a larger sense, the volume aims to contribute to efforts underway in contemporary scholarship to arrive at a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of Descartes  philosophical achievement as such.  Accordingly, the essays in Part I address the character of Descartes  originality with respect to the foundations, method and trajectory of his philosophical project, while those in Part II focus more exclusively on the lasting challenges which issue from that originality.  The range and variety of approaches assembled in the collection are intended to reflect the complexity of Descartes  own thought.  The result is a volume which will be of interest to students of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and the history of philosophy as well as contemporary phenomenology, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language.

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