La Géométrie was published in 1637 as an appendix to "Discours de la méthode" ("Discourse on the Method"), written by René Descartes. In the "Discourse", he presents his method for obtaining clarity on any subject. "La Géométrie" and two other appendices, also by Descartes, "La Dioptrique" ("Optics") and "Les Météores" ("Meteorology"), were published with the "Discourse" to give examples of the kinds of successes he had achieved following his method (as well as, perhaps, considering the contemporary European social climate of intellectual competitiveness, to show off a bit to a wider audience).