2025-1 DescartesMidterm Study Guide 1. What is the synthetic method? What is the analytic method? Descartes says in one passage that there is not a single claim that he asserts with confidence in the First meditation. Explain. The synthetic or syllogistic method was commonly used in the 17th century by philosophers such as Spinoza and Leibniz. For instance, Spinoza famously begins his Ethics wit..