Descartes' Method between the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge and the Philo sophy of Science

Descarte's Discourse on method can be approached from several sides, among which history and philosophy of science (HPS) and sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK) belong among the most important ones. Jan Mar & scaron;& aacute;lek's published recently a criticism of the book Descartes Nik & eacute;t & eacute;s from the perspectives of SSK, in which he joins John Schuster in denying the relevance of Descartes' methodological pronouncements for the practice of real science. The aim of the present paper is to draw a borderline between SSK and HPS and to argue on historical grounds for the relevance of the Cartesian methodology. We see the main historical contribution of the Cartesian methodology in its pivotal role in the development of Newton's approach to natural philosophy. The young Newton was a Cartesian and the development of his own system of natural philosophy can be interpreted as the result of a modification and deepening of the principles of the Cartesian method.