ADVERTISEMENT

René Descartes

French philosopher, scientist, mathematician

René Descartes, a key figure in modern philosophy and science, connected geometry and algebra, rejected traditional views in natural philosophy, and emphasized God's absolute freedom in theology. His famous statement 'cogito, ergo sum' reflects his rationalistic approach. Descartes is considered the father of modern philosophy and analytic geometry, influencing thinkers like Spinoza and Leibniz.

Related

Jean-Paul Sartre Michel de Montaigne Theory of Relativity Ludwig Wittgenstein Immanuel Kant Bertrand Russell Arthur Schopenhauer Age of Enlightenment Voltaire David Hume

Timeline

Descartes' Recognition of Inference in Perception

Descartes recognized the concept of inferring distance based on an object's size and visual angle, emphasizing the role of past experience and rapid judgments in this process.

Birth of René Descartes

René Descartes, a renowned French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, was born in 1596.

Birth of René Descartes

René Descartes, a French mathematician, natural scientist, and philosopher, was born. He is best known for the phrase 'Cogito ergo sum' ('I think therefore I am') and is considered the 'father of modern philosophy'.

René Descartes is born

René Descartes, a prominent scientific thinker and mathematician, was born on November 19, 1596.

Descartes Joined Dutch Army

In 1618, René Descartes went to the Netherlands to become a volunteer for the army of Maurice of Nassau, who was leading a Dutch rebellion against Spain.

Descartes has three dreams and formulates analytic geometry

On the night of 10–11 November 1619, Descartes had three dreams while stationed in Neuburg an der Donau. He believed that a divine spirit revealed to him a new philosophy, leading to the formulation of analytic geometry and the idea of applying the mathematical method to philosophy.

Descartes' Insight on Analytic Geometry

By 1628, René Descartes had the fundamental insight that laid the foundation for analytic geometry. This technique allowed for the description of lines using mathematical equations.

Conception of The World treatise

Descartes conceived the idea for a comprehensive treatise encompassing all natural phenomena, beyond just parhelia, in November 1629 while residing in Amsterdam. The treatise was intended to cover physics, light, physiology, and the soul.

Descartes' Impact on Western Philosophy

Descartes is considered the father of modern Western philosophy, his methodic doubt profoundly influenced modern thinking and shifted the concept of truth from God to humanity.

René Descartes praises philosophy teaching at La Flèche

In 1638, René Descartes praised the teaching of philosophy at La Flèche, stating that nowhere on earth is philosophy taught better at the school. He recommended the school to an inquiring father for his son's education.

Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)

In 1641, René Descartes introduced the famous philosophical statement 'Cogito, ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am) in his work 'Meditations on First Philosophy'. Descartes emphasized the certainty of self-existence based on the act of thinking, even in the face of doubt and skepticism.

Meditationes de prima philosophia

In 1642, René Descartes published another work titled 'Meditationes de prima philosophia' in which he demonstrates the existence of God and the distinction between the human soul and body.

Descartes' Letter to Princess Elizabeth

Descartes wrote a letter to Princess Elizabeth on May 21, 1643, where he discussed the notion of the union between the mind and body, explaining the soul's power to move the body and the body's power to cause sensations and passions in the soul.

Publication of 'Principles of Philosophy'

In 1644, René Descartes published 'Principles of Philosophy' in Latin, further solidifying his philosophical ideas. This work contributed to the development of rationalism in the 17th century.

Queen Christina of Sweden's Correspondence with Descartes

Queen Christina of Sweden initiated a correspondence with Descartes through a French diplomat, discussing moral issues and the absolute good. This eventually led to an invitation for Descartes to join the Queen's court in Stockholm in 1649.

Publication of Comments on a Certain Broadsheet

Descartes publishes Comments on a Certain Broadsheet as a rebuttal to criticism he received from a former pupil regarding the concept of mind, soul, God's existence, and the origin of ideas. This work sparked a dialogue to delve deeper into philosophical questions.

Death of René Descartes

René Descartes passed away on February 11, 1650. He was a prominent philosopher and mathematician, known for his rationalist approach to knowledge and the famous statement 'I think, therefore I am.'

Descartes contracts pneumonia

On February 1, 1650, Descartes contracted pneumonia and his health deteriorated. He refused treatment and eventually passed away on February 11, 1650.

Death of René Descartes

René Descartes passed away in Stockholm, Sweden. Despite his death, his significant contributions to mathematics, physics, and philosophy continue to influence various fields.

Publication of Descartes' Correspondance

Descartes' Correspondance was published in three volumes in 1657, 1659, and 1667 by his literary executor Claude Clerselier. The 1667 edition was the most complete, although Clerselier omitted some mathematical material.

Descartes' qualified admiration for philosophy and metaphysics

Descartes initially expressed qualified admiration towards philosophy and metaphysics, which later turned into deep hostility.

Holy Office of the Catholic Church condemns Descartes' books

In 1663, four years after Descartes' death, the Holy Office of the Catholic Church condemned four of his books and added them to the list of banned works.

Publication of Treatise on Man

Descartes published the Treatise on Man posthumously in 1664, providing a detailed physiological description of animal bodies in a mechanical manner, devoid of any reference to a soul or vital principle.

Descartes' reinterment at the Church of St. Genevieve du Mont

Sixteen years after Descartes' death, his remains were interred at the cemetery of the Church of St. Genevieve du Mont in 1667, excluding his head and one finger. This event marked the relocation of his remains from Stockholm to Paris.

Leibniz questions Descartes' laws of motion and impact

Nearly a century after Descartes' death, Leibniz challenged the coherence of Descartes' laws of motion and impact.

Newton introduces laws of motion and gravitational attraction

Isaac Newton presented his own laws of motion and the inverse square law of gravitational attraction, challenging Descartes' accounts of magnetism and gravity.

Proof of Descartes' Rule of Signs by Gauss

Carl Friedrich Gauss provided a proof for Descartes' Rule of Signs in 1828, further solidifying its mathematical significance.

Publication of Latin Meditations by Artur Buchenau

The Latin text of the six Meditations by Descartes was published in 1913 by Artur Buchenau in Leipzig. This edition can be found on Project Gutenburg.

Publication of 'Descartes' by Margaret Wilson

Margaret Wilson's 'Descartes' published in 1978 is a classic in Descartes scholarship covering the whole of his philosophy as expressed in the Meditations.

Richard Popkin's Influence on Interpretation of Descartes' Skeptical Arguments

Some interpreters, possibly influenced by Richard Popkin in 1979, argue that Descartes addressed the skeptical threat to knowledge seriously in his Meditations.

Descartes’ Mathesis Universalis

John Schuster discusses Descartes' work on Mathesis Universalis from 1619 to 1628.

Publication of Philosophical Writings of Descartes

The Philosophical Writings of Descartes, consisting of 3 volumes, were published by John Cottingham, Robert Stoothoff, Dugald Murdoch, and Anthony Kenny. The works were edited and translated by the mentioned individuals and were released by Cambridge University Press.

Publication of Passions of the Soul

Passions of the Soul was translated by Stephen H. Voss and published in 1989. The translation was released by Hackett in Indianapolis.

Publication of Meditations on First Philosophy

Meditations on First Philosophy, also known as Meditationes de prima philosophia, was translated by George Heffernan and published in 1990. The translation was released by the University of Notre Dame Press in Notre Dame. It is a literal translation of the six Meditations proper, with facing-page Latin.

Publication of Discourse on the Method

In 1994, the book 'Discourse on the Method' was published. It is a work by René Descartes that discusses the proper way to conduct one's reason and seek truth in the sciences. This specific edition was translated by George Heffernan and includes a bilingual format with an interpretive essay.

Oeuvres de Descartes by Charles Adam and Paul Tannery

A new edition of Descartes' works in 11 volumes, presenting them in the original French or Latin along with early translations of major works from Latin into French.

Publication of Meditations and Other Metaphysical Writings

In 1998, 'Meditations and Other Metaphysical Writings' was published. This work, translated by Desmond M. Clarke, is a collection of philosophical writings. It is a significant contribution to the understanding of metaphysics and Descartes' philosophy.

Survey of Descartes' Natural Philosophy

Gaukroger's work from 2002 provides a survey of Descartes' natural philosophy.

Descartes’ Passions of the Soul and the Union of Mind and Body

In 2003, Lisa Shapiro published a paper titled 'Descartes’ Passions of the Soul and the Union of Mind and Body' in the journal Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie, discussing Descartes' views on the connection between the mind and body.

Peter Machamer and J. E. McGuire's interpretation of Descartes' philosophy

Peter Machamer and J. E. McGuire argue that Descartes initially aimed for absolute certainty in natural philosophy through the Meditations but later shifted to a lower standard of certainty in Principles IV. They highlight Descartes' change in epistemic approach towards his hypotheses, like the explanation of magnetism.

Discovery of Unknown Letter from Descartes

In January 2010, a previously unknown letter from Descartes, dated 27 May 1641, was discovered by Dutch philosopher Erik-Jan Bos. The letter was found in a summary of autographs at Haverford College, Pennsylvania, and was the third such letter found in 25 years.

End of the Timeline
René Descartes

Popular

Provider of coworking spaces

Jamaican retired sprinter, world record holder

American actor, producer, and screenwriter.

Short-form video hosting service

TikTok

Purdue University

Public research university in Indiana

ADVERTISEMENT

Recently Added

Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

English professional football club in Brighton and Hove

Professional football club in West London

Burnley F.C. is a football club in Lancashire

A.F.C. Bournemouth

Football club with roots dating back to 1890

Gustave Courbet

French Realism painter and innovator

ADVERTISEMENT