René Descartes 
DESCARTES ESSENTIAL 

Often called ‘The founder of modern philosophy’ and the ‘father of modern mathematics, ‘ René Descartes is considered one of the most important and influential thinkers in the history of Western thought, having inspired contemporaries and several generations of later philosophers. Experts affirm that, starting from Descartes, the rationalism of the Modern Age was inaugurated. In this valuable e Book, the reader will be able to learn about Descartes' thought through two of his most important works: ‘Discourse on the Method’ and ‘Meditations on First Philosophy.’

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René Descartes (1596 – 1650) was a French philosopher, physicist, and mathematician. He is considered the creator of Cartesian thought, a philosophical system that gave rise to Modern Philosophy. His primary concern was order and clarity. He proposed to develop a philosophy that never believed in falsehood, based solely on truth. René du Perron Descartes was born in La Haye, formerly in the province of Touraine, now Descartes, France, on March 31, 1596. He was the son of Joachim Descartes, a lawyer and judge, landowner with the title of squire, the lowest rank of nobility. He was also a counselor in the Parliament of Rennes in the nearby city of Brittany. René Descartes studied at the Jesuit Royal Henry – Le Grand College, established in the De La Flèche castle. Donated to the Jesuits by King Henry IV, it was the most prestigious college in France at the time, aiming to train the best minds. In 1615, he graduated in Law from the University of Poitiers, but did not practice law. Disappointed with the education, he asserted that only mathematics demonstrate what they claim. In 1617, René Descartes joined the army of Prince Maurice of Nassau in the Netherlands. He established contact with recent mathematical discoveries by studying with the Dutch scientist Isaac Beeckman. At the age of 22, he began formulating his ‘analytical geometry’ and his ‘method for reasoning correctly.’ Descartes broke with the philosophy of Aristotle, adopted in the academies, and in 1619, proposed a unitary and universal science, laying the foundations of the modern scientific method. He participated in the Thirty Years' War, fighting under the orders of Tilly in the Battle of White Mountain in 1621. He later returned to France, where he traveled to Italy, Holland, and Spain. From 1629 to 1649, he remained in the Netherlands. René Descartes carried out various works in philosophy, science, and mathematics. He linked algebra with geometry, giving rise to analytical geometry and the coordinate system, known today as the ‘Cartesian Plane.’ He improved algebra, suggesting simpler notations, made numerous discoveries in the field of physics, and created the theory of light refraction through lenses.