Rene Descartes Philosopher
- Gender: Male
- Citizenship: France
- Born: Mar 31, 1596
- Died: Feb 11, 1650
René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician and writer who spent most of his life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the father of modern philosophy, and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day. In particular, his Meditations on First Philosophy continues to be a standard text at most university philosophy departments. Descartes' influence in mathematics is equally apparent; the Cartesian coordinate system — allowing reference to a point in space as a set of numbers, and allowing algebraic equations to be expressed as geometric shapes in a two-dimensional coordinate system — was named after him. He is credited as the father of analytical geometry, the bridge between algebra and geometry, crucial to the discovery of infinitesimal calculus and analysis. Descartes was also one of the key figures in the scientific revolution and has been described as an example of genius. He refused to accept the authority of previous philosophers, and refused to trust his own senses. Descartes frequently sets his views apart from those of his predecessors.
The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.
being good
When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.
power
It is not enough to have a good mind the main thing is to use it well.
being good
Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.
men
Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power.
power
The two operations of our understanding, intuition and deduction, on which alone we have said we must rely in the acquisition of knowledge.
being alone & knowledge
The senses deceive from time to time, and it is prudent never to trust wholly those who have deceived us even once.
time & trust
I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake.
dreams
If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
truth
I am indeed amazed when I consider how weak my mind is and how prone to error.
amazing
Each problem that I solved became a rule, which served afterwards to solve other problems.
science