Contents
René Descartes
Making systematic doubt central to philosophy and linking algebra with geometry.
Discourse on Method · La Géométrie
- Born
- 31 March 1596
- Birthplace
- La Haye en Touraine, France
- Died
- 11 February 1650
More people
René Descartes
René Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician whose work helped shape early modern thought.
Early life
Jesuit education
Studied at La Flèche before completing a law degree.
Travel and study
Travelled in Europe and pursued mathematics and natural philosophy.
Career
- 1620s
Developing a method
Worked on questions of knowledge and mathematical reasoning.
- 1628 onward
Dutch Republic
Spent much of his productive career there.
- 1649
Sweden
Moved to the court of Queen Christina shortly before his death.
Selected writings
Discourse on Method
Presented a programme for disciplined reasoning.
La Géométrie
Connected geometrical problems with algebraic methods.
Meditations
Examined doubt, certainty, mind and the external world.
Beyond philosophy
Scientific interests
Studied optics, physiology and physical explanations of nature.
Correspondence
Developed ideas through exchanges with scholars and patrons, including Princess Elisabeth.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ↗Photo: After Frans Hals. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
