René

Descartes

1596 — 1650

Descartes was born in La Haye en Touraine, France. He studied at the University of Poitiers, where he received a law degree. However, he was more interested in philosophy and mathematics.

In 1629, Descartes settled in the Netherlands, where he lived for the rest of his life. He published his first major work, Discourse on Method, in 1637. In this work, he outlined his method of doubt and argued that the only thing he could know for certain was his own existence. He famously said, “I think, therefore I am.”

His most famous work, Meditations on First Philosophy, was published in 1641. In this work, he explored the nature of reality and the relationship between mind and body. Descartes's work had a profound impact on philosophy.

He is considered one of the founders of modern philosophy. His ideas about the mind and body also influenced the development of psychology and neuroscience.