Rene Descartes, The Nature of th Quotes

A collection of quotes by Rene Descartes, The Nature of th.

Rene Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, widely regarded as the father of modern philosophy. He was born on March 31, 1596, in La Haye en Touraine, France. Descartes is best known for his famous statement "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am), which became a fundamental principle of Western philosophy.

Descartes made significant contributions to various fields of study. In mathematics, he developed a Cartesian coordinate system, revolutionizing analytical geometry. His book "Discourse on the Method" served as a foundation for modern scientific methodology. In it, Descartes advocated for skepticism and rationalism, emphasizing the importance of doubt and logical reasoning.

In addition to his philosophical and scientific work, Descartes also made advancements in physiology and optics. He posited that the human body is a complex machine governed by physical laws and introduced the concept of reflexes.

Descartes' ideas had a profound impact on the intellectual landscape of his time, challenging existing beliefs and laying the groundwork for the Enlightenment. However, his works were met with controversy and criticism from the Catholic Church, leading him to seek refuge in various European countries.

Rene Descartes died on February 11, 1650, in Stockholm, Sweden. His writings continue to be studied and his philosophical ideas remain relevant to this day, making him one of the most influential thinkers in history.

Thinking is another attribute of the soul; and here I discov

Thinking is another attribute of the soul; and here I discover what properly belongs to myself. This alone is inseparable from me. I am -- I exist: this is certain; but how often? As often as I think; for perhaps it would even happen, if I should wholly cease to think, that I should at the same time altogether cease to be. I now admit nothing that is not necessarily true: I am therefore, precisely speaking, only a thinking thing, that is, a mind, understanding, or reason, -- terms whose signification was before unknown to me. I am, however, a real thing, and really existent; but what thing? The answer was, a thinking thing. The question now arises, am I aught besides? I will stimulate my imagination with a view to discover whether I am not still something more than a thinking being. Now it is plain I am not the assemblage of members called the human body; I am not a thin and penetrating air diffused through all these members, or wind, or flame, or vapour, or breath, or any of all the things I can imagine; for I supposed that all these were not, and, without changing the supposition, I find that I still feel assured of my existence.

Rene Descartes, The Nature of th

Thought