René Descartes (1596–1650)
French philosopher who
attempted to integrate philosophy with the ‘new’ sciences – moving away
from the traditional reliance on the ‘revealed truth’ of theology. He
championed the method of doubting anything that cannot be proved, which
led him to the only indubitable fact: that he existed. Proof of his
existence was his thinking – “I think therefore I am”. On this
foundation he built his philosophy. Descartes is hugely influential and
is often called the “father” of modern philosophy. His most famous book
is ‘Meditations on First Philosophy’. He was also an accomplished
mathematician.
Descartes was born in Tours and educated at a
Jesuit college. Later he studied law, and enlisted in the Dutch and
Bavarian militaries. By 1619 he had begun his mathematical studies of
natural phenomena as well as his philosophical writings, spending time
over the next decade in Paris, or traveling. In 1629 he moved to
Holland to spend the next 20 years in seclusion whilst he wrote. The
Discourse on the Method was published in 1637, the Meditations on First
Philosophy in 1641. In 1649, Descartes moved to Stockholm to work as
philosophy tutor to Queen Christina of Sweden. The harsh climate
affected his already fragile health and he died there in 1650.
Descartes had become very famous. He was even thought by some to be a
candidate for sainthood, and as his body was transported back to France
from Sweden, hopefuls removed parts of his body to keep as relics. He
was much reduced by the time he arrived in France!
See:
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Wikipedia
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
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