Death of Rene Descartes on February 11, 1650. His death was not to be rejoiced, but his life. He was a very well rounded, well traveled, and well versed philosopher. He coined the phrase “ I think, therefore I am”.
Descartes was born on March 31, 1596 in the South of France, where his father was a councilor of Parliament and made sure that his son always had ample opportunity for education. He went to several schools in Europe, finishing his schooling in 1616 with a major focus in philosophy and with a Bachelorette in Law. He spent the next years of his life post graduation studying, reading and writing philosophical essays to keep his mind sharp. Descartes biggest contributions to the world were his philosophical writings. He after spending so many years studying mathematics and science, he was immoveable from the idea that he could use math and science to explain anything in the known physical universe, or nature. He did write many books on those topics as well, but his major focus and passion was philosophy, writing such important pieces as, his first work, Rules for the Direction of the Mind, then Meditations on First Philosophy, and Principles of Philosophy. His views and writings on the intricate and real relationship between mind and body, are still today considered some of the most important ever, and have been used time and time again in the past several centuries. Descartes was a firm believer in Copernicanism, and would have taught it, as well as published his 3 essay work on the subject, had he not heard that Galileo was prosecuted for his writings on the same subject. One of the last and most memorable pieces by Descartes was a book on Psychology, physiology and ethics, entitled, Passions of the Soul. Those were several of his major contributions to the literary, and philosophical world.
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