Descartes & His Philosophy

Grade 12 LiteratureCharles 31December 14th ,2015

René Descartes

Born on 31 March 1596 in La Haye, France

The Father of analytic geometry

The Father of modern philosophy

Rationalism

Cartesian doubt

“Cogito, ergo sum”

Rationalism

• Often known as Cartesianism• The knowledge of eternal truths

Cartesian doubt• Defeat skepticism on its own ground• Doubt the truth of everything

Cogito, ergo sum

• In his Discourse on the Method• Conducted from the first person

perspective

Descartes’s philosophy in Candide Descartes theory of innate ideas(Ch.22) More like Pangloss “There are always more good things than evil in

this live”

Reference

Skirry, Justin. "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.

Smith, Kurt. "Descartes' Life and Works." Stanford University. Stanford University, 9 Apr. 2001. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.

Voltaire. “Candide”. Trans. Lowell Bair. Batam Books, New York, 1959. Print.

Images

Descartes: http://boongoo.com/839132-rene-descartes.html

Lightbulb: http://www.stephendekuyper.com/philosophy/cogito-ergo-sum/

I think therefore I am: http://hikingartist.com/2011/08/29/i-think-therefore-i-am-illustration/bw-i-think-therefore-txt/

Rationalism: http://hubpages.com/education/Philosophy-of-knowledge-Rationalism

Logic: http://heythrop.su/logic-society/

Doubt: http://mi-mam-sa.blogspot.tw/2009/03/descartes-part-3-birth-of-cartesian_01.html