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René Descartes: Philosophy and Mathematics

René Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician born on March 31, 1596, and died on February 11, 1650. He is known for his contributions to modern philosophy, particularly mind-body dualism, and for developing analytic geometry, which bridged algebra and geometry through the Cartesian coordinate system. His influential works include 'Discourse on Method' and 'Principles of Philosophy,' impacting figures such as Isaac Newton and shaping perspectives on science and individualism.

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17 views9 pages

René Descartes: Philosophy and Mathematics

René Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician born on March 31, 1596, and died on February 11, 1650. He is known for his contributions to modern philosophy, particularly mind-body dualism, and for developing analytic geometry, which bridged algebra and geometry through the Cartesian coordinate system. His influential works include 'Discourse on Method' and 'Principles of Philosophy,' impacting figures such as Isaac Newton and shaping perspectives on science and individualism.

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kadixonzaharia100
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Rene Descartes

By David, Belle, and Lulu


Background

● Born March 31, 1596 in Touraine, France


● Died February 11, 1650

● Period of doubt
● Scientific and mathematical
advancement
Background

College and Education


● Jesuit College of La Flèche
○ 1607
○ Interest in mathematics and
science
● University of Poitiers
Influences
● Isaac Beckman
○ His mentor from Breda
○ They worked together to learn about
“physico-mathematica,” or mathematical
physics
● Galio
○ Advocated for a quantitative approach for
mathematics
○ promoting the use of mathematics
the,understanding the natural world, and
defending the Copernican theory
● Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia
○ Criticizing his theory of mind body dualism
○ His work of Passion of Soul was written at
her request
Major Works
● Geometry
○ "La Géométrie" (Geometry), which was
published in 1637
○ Developed concept of analytic geometry
within “Discourse of Method”
● Cartesian System
○ Used Cartesian coordinate system to bridge
gap between algebra and geometry
○ Use of X and Y graph linked directly to
Descartes from his discovery
Major Works
● Father of modern philosophy
○ Mind-body dualism
○ Individualism
● A science-based approach
○ Discourse on Method
○ The World and Principles of
Philosophy
Influenced
● Principles of Philosophy
○ Robert Boyle (1627-1691)
○ Edmond Halley (1656-1742)
○ Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
● A new perspective on religion
○ Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
○ Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
● Individualism
○ Discourse on Method
○ Women’s rights
Quotes
● “Cogito, ergo, sum” / “I think, therefore I
am”

● “De omnibus dubitandum” / “Doubt


everything”

●
Works Cited
● https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rene-Descartes/Residence-in-t
he-Netherlands
● https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/descartes-works/#:~:text=It%20is%2
0also%20during%20his,and%20a%20treatise%20on%20man.
● https://www.berfrois.com/2012/08/descartes-gave-us-all-we-needed/
● https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Descartes
● https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Descartes/#:~:text=
Descartes%20was%20educated%20at%20the,the%20College%20two
%20years%20earlier.%5D
● http://people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/Notes/descar1.html
● https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Descartes/#:~:text=
Ren%C3%A9%20Descartes%20was%20a%20French,on%20both%20m
athematicians%20and%20philosophers.
●

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