Descartes

Descartes

René Descartes (1596–1650) was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist who is often referred to as the "father of modern philosophy." His work laid the foundation for 17th-century continental rationalism, later advocated by Baruch Spinoza and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and opposed by the empiricist school of thought led by John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume.

Biography

René Descartes was born on March 31, 1596, in La Haye en Touraine, France. He was educated at the Jesuit college of La Flèche, where he studied classical subjects, philosophy, and mathematics. Descartes later studied law at the University of Poitiers, graduating in 1616. However, he never practiced law, choosing instead to travel and study mathematics and philosophy.

In 1618, Descartes joined the army of Prince Maurice of Nassau, where he met Isaac Beeckman, who rekindled his interest in mathematics and the sciences. Descartes spent much of his life traveling through Europe, eventually settling in the Netherlands for over 20 years. In 1649, he moved to Sweden at the invitation of Queen Christina, where he died of pneumonia in 1650.

Philosophical Contributions

Descartes is best known for his statement "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), which became a fundamental element of Western philosophy. This statement is found in his work "Meditations on First Philosophy," where he sought to establish a secure foundation for the sciences by doubting everything that could possibly be doubted, until he reached something that was absolutely certain.

Method of Doubt

Descartes' method of doubt involves systematically doubting the truth of one's beliefs to establish which beliefs are absolutely certain. This method is a form of methodological skepticism, which he used to strip away all uncertain beliefs, leaving only those that are indubitable.

Dualism

Descartes is also known for his theory of mind-body dualism, which posits that the mind and body are distinct substances. According to Descartes, the mind is a non-physical substance, while the body is a physical substance. This dualism has had a profound impact on the development of modern psychology and philosophy of mind.

Mathematical Contributions

Descartes made significant contributions to mathematics, particularly in the development of Cartesian coordinates, which laid the groundwork for analytical geometry. His work "La Géométrie" introduced the use of algebra to solve geometric problems, which was revolutionary at the time.

Scientific Contributions

In addition to his philosophical and mathematical work, Descartes made contributions to the field of optics and the understanding of the natural world. His work "Dioptrique" explored the nature of light and vision, and he proposed the law of refraction, known as Snell's Law.

Legacy

Descartes' work has had a lasting impact on both philosophy and science. His emphasis on reason and doubt laid the groundwork for the Scientific Revolution and the development of modern scientific methods. His ideas continue to be studied and debated by philosophers and scientists alike.

Also see

• Meditations on First Philosophy
• Cartesian coordinate system
• Mind-body dualism
• Scientific Revolution

{{{1}}}