Descartes Enlightens use
He promoted and developed the idea of dualism which divide our mind and the body or matter, which existed in three dimensions. He believed that parts of our body was operated their own mechanics and where machines.[8] Throughout his studies he dissected animals, to try and prove his theories and he later on claimed that as animals do not have a soul or mind, they do not feel or think. He realized a central problem, although one can effect the other, if you will your leg to move it moves and if you bang your toe, your brain will react and you will feel pain. He did not understand this interconnection was possible. According to Descartes, the mind and the body are two separate matters that interconnect by the pineal gland. He later on published a book called, Principles of Philosophy on this topic.
Despite his popularity for theoretical abstract and metaphysical problems, he is also well known for the underpinning of modern philosophy. He has also dominant outtakes on the evolution of physics. In addition to discovering the first modern law of nature and the basic of motion, he also formulated and promoted the idea which became a popular theory of the motion of the planet.[9]
One of the most important influence towards Rene Descartes was a Dutch scientist and philosopher, Sir Issac Beeckman. He triggered Descartes passion with physics. Intrigued by this man, he began studying and learning under his guidance. Beekman challenged Descartes by intertwining mathematics with other different subjects.[10] Thus Descartes became Beekman’s student. Beekman is thereby attributed for Descartes wild and revealing ideas on physical concepts, as well as his enduring and long-lasting works.[11]
Descartes has left a legacy of important philosophical and mathematical theories as well as concepts and opinions. He has left numerous mathematical contributions that are still used today, such as the coordinate system and analytic geometry.[12] These theories and discoveries have led a pathway through the world of calculus and mathematical analysis. Descartes has left behind many books that we still use and study today. Despite Descartes fame due to his philosophy and mathematics, he was also a political thinker. Though, as a famous philosopher, Descartes has not influenced much of the political world today. Although many of his scientific theories are dated and are now proved wrong he is still the source of a strong part of the Enlightenment, thinking and questioning.
*Fun Fact*
Many mathematical historians have asserted, that it may be that Rene Descartes’s impulse and influence for the coordinated system or Cartesian plane was due to his routine and laziness of staying in bed. According to a few outlooks, one morning Descartes was laying on his bed and noticed a fly crawling on his ceilings. As he stared at the fly, he wondered how he could track the flies position by its relevance to the walls. This thinking led to a book he wrote called La Geometrie and the discovery of coordinate plane that we still use to this day.[13]
Bibliography:
[1] Cottingham, John. The Cambridge Companion to Descartes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
[2] Smith, Kurt. "Descartes' Life and Works." Stanford University. 2001. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/descartes-works/#Med.
[3] "Philosophers.co.uk." Rene Descartes. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://www.philosophers.co.uk/rene-descartes.html.
[4] "RenÉ Descartes Biography." Rene Descartes Biography. Accessed April 27, 2016. http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/Descartes-Rene.html#ixzz46fj8byPz.
[5] "Philosophers.co.uk." Rene Descartes. Accessed April 26, 2016.
[6] Flood, Alison. "Stolen René Descartes Letter Discovered at US College." The Guardian. 2010. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/26/rene-descartes- stolen-letter.
[7] Cottingham, John. The Cambridge Companion to Descartes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
[8] Watson, Richard A. "Rene Descartes." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/biography/Rene-Descartes.
[9] Slowik, Edward. "Descartes' Physics." Stanford University. 2005. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/descartes-physics/#1.1.
[10] "Beeckman, Isaac." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (April 28, 2016). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2- 2830900336.html
[11] "René Descartes." TheScienceClassroom -. Accessed April 28, 2016. https://thescienceclassroom.wikispaces.com/René Descartes.
[12] "Ren Descartes By Individual Philosopher Philosophy." Ren Descartes By Individual Philosopher Philosophy. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_descartes.html.
[13] "Descartes’s Paradoxical Politics." Accessed April 28, 2016.
http://www.nhinet.org/taylor14-2.pdf
Image 1: "Renati Des-Cartes Meditationes De Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei Existentia Et Animae Immortalitas Demonstratur. [Sequuntur Objectiones... Cum Responsionibus Authoris.]." Gallica. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://
Image 2: Image: Flood, Alison. "Stolen René Descartes Letter Discovered at US College." The Guardian. 2010. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/26/rene-descartes-stolen-letter.
Image 3: Image:"Rene Descartes." Rene Descartes. Accessed April 28, 2016.
http://home.wlu.edu/~mahonj/Descartes.Bio.htm.
Despite his popularity for theoretical abstract and metaphysical problems, he is also well known for the underpinning of modern philosophy. He has also dominant outtakes on the evolution of physics. In addition to discovering the first modern law of nature and the basic of motion, he also formulated and promoted the idea which became a popular theory of the motion of the planet.[9]
One of the most important influence towards Rene Descartes was a Dutch scientist and philosopher, Sir Issac Beeckman. He triggered Descartes passion with physics. Intrigued by this man, he began studying and learning under his guidance. Beekman challenged Descartes by intertwining mathematics with other different subjects.[10] Thus Descartes became Beekman’s student. Beekman is thereby attributed for Descartes wild and revealing ideas on physical concepts, as well as his enduring and long-lasting works.[11]
Descartes has left a legacy of important philosophical and mathematical theories as well as concepts and opinions. He has left numerous mathematical contributions that are still used today, such as the coordinate system and analytic geometry.[12] These theories and discoveries have led a pathway through the world of calculus and mathematical analysis. Descartes has left behind many books that we still use and study today. Despite Descartes fame due to his philosophy and mathematics, he was also a political thinker. Though, as a famous philosopher, Descartes has not influenced much of the political world today. Although many of his scientific theories are dated and are now proved wrong he is still the source of a strong part of the Enlightenment, thinking and questioning.
*Fun Fact*
Many mathematical historians have asserted, that it may be that Rene Descartes’s impulse and influence for the coordinated system or Cartesian plane was due to his routine and laziness of staying in bed. According to a few outlooks, one morning Descartes was laying on his bed and noticed a fly crawling on his ceilings. As he stared at the fly, he wondered how he could track the flies position by its relevance to the walls. This thinking led to a book he wrote called La Geometrie and the discovery of coordinate plane that we still use to this day.[13]
Bibliography:
[1] Cottingham, John. The Cambridge Companion to Descartes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
[2] Smith, Kurt. "Descartes' Life and Works." Stanford University. 2001. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/descartes-works/#Med.
[3] "Philosophers.co.uk." Rene Descartes. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://www.philosophers.co.uk/rene-descartes.html.
[4] "RenÉ Descartes Biography." Rene Descartes Biography. Accessed April 27, 2016. http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/Descartes-Rene.html#ixzz46fj8byPz.
[5] "Philosophers.co.uk." Rene Descartes. Accessed April 26, 2016.
[6] Flood, Alison. "Stolen René Descartes Letter Discovered at US College." The Guardian. 2010. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/26/rene-descartes- stolen-letter.
[7] Cottingham, John. The Cambridge Companion to Descartes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
[8] Watson, Richard A. "Rene Descartes." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/biography/Rene-Descartes.
[9] Slowik, Edward. "Descartes' Physics." Stanford University. 2005. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/descartes-physics/#1.1.
[10] "Beeckman, Isaac." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (April 28, 2016). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2- 2830900336.html
[11] "René Descartes." TheScienceClassroom -. Accessed April 28, 2016. https://thescienceclassroom.wikispaces.com/René Descartes.
[12] "Ren Descartes By Individual Philosopher Philosophy." Ren Descartes By Individual Philosopher Philosophy. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_descartes.html.
[13] "Descartes’s Paradoxical Politics." Accessed April 28, 2016.
http://www.nhinet.org/taylor14-2.pdf
Image 1: "Renati Des-Cartes Meditationes De Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei Existentia Et Animae Immortalitas Demonstratur. [Sequuntur Objectiones... Cum Responsionibus Authoris.]." Gallica. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://
Image 2: Image: Flood, Alison. "Stolen René Descartes Letter Discovered at US College." The Guardian. 2010. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/26/rene-descartes-stolen-letter.
Image 3: Image:"Rene Descartes." Rene Descartes. Accessed April 28, 2016.
http://home.wlu.edu/~mahonj/Descartes.Bio.htm.