Summary:
Descartes studies led him to see a new way of thinking. His first work the "Rules for the Direction of the Mind" showcased his new beliefs. Even though this was distributed in manuscript form, this book was never published until 1701. Descartes gave the assumption that man's knowledge was limited by the untrue belief that the various objects of experience determine science.
René Descartes was born on March 31, 1596 in La Haye France, in the region of Touraine. He was the son of Joachim and Jeanne Descartes. His father was a member of minor nobility and served in the Parliament of Brittany. A year after his birth his mother died, and although his father remarried, their maternal grandmother and a nurse raised Descartes and his older brother and sister. In 1604 René entered La Fleche College at the age of eight. The king established this school, which was a Jesuit college that was for the young nobility. (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998). At this school he studied a variety of subjects and did extremely well in Mathematics. While in school his health was poor and he was granted permission to remain in bed until 11am, which was a routine he maintained until his death. (O'Connor/Robertson, 1997). Descartes stayed at this school for eight-years and said it was "one of the most celebrated schools in Northern Europe" (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998)(Burnham/Fieser, 2001)
Though various sources site different ages, he was approximately18 when he left college and in the next few years he learned fencing, horsemanship, and dancing, and got a law degree from the University of Poitiers in 1616. (O'Connor/Robertson, 1997). From 1618 to 1628 traveled throughout Europe going to Bohemia, Hungary, Germany, Holland, and France. (O'Connor/Robertson, 1997) (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998) Then in 1619 he entered the army of Prince Maurice of Nassau, but he then entered the Catholic army of Maximillian I of Bavaria. "Living on the income of lands he inherited, Descartes served with out pay and also saw very little action", although he fought in the battle of Prague which was one of the major battles of the Thirty Years War. (Encyclopedia of World History, 1998). Although Descartes traveled a lot, he still sought out to find and make friendships with mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers and his most important friendship was with Isaac Beeckman. He recommended Descartes to begin writing scientific treatises on math and music. (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998).
At this period in time, Descartes was influenced by three dreams he had on Nov. 10, 1619. " He interpreted their symbols as a divine sign that all science is one and that its mastery is universal wisdom." (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998) Also during this time he wrote another treatise, which was unfinished, it was named the "Direction of the Mind." Over the next decade he spent time associating with mathematicians and physicists. Then in 1629 he moved to Holland and lived primarily in Amsterdam for the next two decades. Here in Holland is where he made came up with the foundation of analytic geometry, which Galileo also helped to create. This work was one of his most significant works, although he may have used information from previous mathematicians, however, he always claimed that his works were original and never came from anyone else. (O'Connor/Robertson, 1997) (Burnham/ Fieser, 2001) With some exceptions of his early works and the Rules, Descartes writings are lost. Since he was also very popular in Holland as he was in Paris, he made many new friends but never let them come before his work. Although he was never married, Descartes had a daughter named Francine. She died at the age of 5 in 1640. (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998).
Descartes studies led him to see a new way of thinking. His first work the "Rules for the Direction of the Mind" showcased his new beliefs. Even though this was distributed in manuscript form, this book was never published until 1701. Descartes in this book, Descartes gave the assumption that man's knowledge was limited by the untrue belief that the various objects of experience determine science. (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998). By 1634, Descartes had written his book "The World" and unfortunately only parts of this book survived due to the Catholic Church condemning it. He then held back his book because he supported the Copernican theory. (which Galileo wrote about) The theory stated that the Earth was the not the center of the universe but revolved around the sun and he had written about it in his book "The World." (Encyclopedia of World Biography).
In 1637, Descartes finished his book, "Discourse of Method." Likewise three other minor works on geometry, dioptrics, and meteors. This book was important for several reasons because; "it was directed to the common person not philosophers, it was written in French, and it was autobiographical and begins with his education as an example for a new method of conducting information." Next Descartes wrote "Meditation", which he believed that his method of science could be applied to general philosophical questions. (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1998). It consisted of six meditations and they are: " First Meditation: Descartes states that doubt is a positive means of discovering whether there is any certain foundation for knowledge. Second Meditation: involves uncertain issues in a simple manner by arguing that even if it is doubtful whether sense images or ideas have objects. Third Meditation: shows that God is not a deceiver and ideas must have objects that exactly and actually correspond to them. Fourth Meditation deals with human error. Fifth Meditation: of the essence of material things. And in the last, the Sixth Meditation: Descartes attempted to explain the relationship between the soul and the body. Since he believed in mechanism, which is the philosophical theory that all natural facts, including human behavior, can be explained by physical causes and processes there could be no link between the two." (Encyclopedia of world Biography, 1998)
René Descartes spent the rest of his career, he spent it defending controversial subjects. One controversial subject was whether a vacuum could exist (which he opposed). Then in 1644 he published his last book "Principals of Philosophy", which broke down Meditations into a different form and applied scientific applications. In 1649 Descartes moved to Stockholm Sweden, when he accepted the invitation of Queen Christina to teach her philosophy. At times she had him lector her from 5 am until late in the afternoon. Due to the weather and waking up so early, it took a toll on his already declining health and in 1650 he died from pneumonia. (O'Connor/Robertson, 1997)(Burnham/ Fieser, 2001)(Encyclopedia of World Biography).
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