ROLE IN SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
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Descartes Role in the Scientific Revolution
-Heralded as the first modern philosopher, or “father of modern philosophy”
-One of the first to turn away from Aristotle’s philosophies, thus launching the Scientific Revolution
-Created a new system of philosophy where thinking was equivalent to existing, best known from his famous phrase “I think, therefore I am”
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Descartes Discoveries
-Analytical geometry: Descartes made the connection between geometry and algebra which helped advance both
-The ability to mechanically explain physical occurrences through a breakthrough in information on matter
-Deductive reasoning that is applicable to all sciences
-Cartesian dualism: Two foundations of mind and body
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Notable Works of Descartes
-Meditationes de Prima Philosophia- Foundation for a philosophical approach to science
-Rules for the Direction of the Mind- Solving mathematical procedures through reasoning
-Discourse on Method- Deductive reasoning and philosophy
-Passions of the Soul- Insight that free will can control the body
-Principles of Philosophy- Compilations of Descartes’ physics
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The Introduction of Descartes Findings
-Had a vision one night revealing the discovery of the correspondence between geometry and algebra
-Used math and ancient Greek philosophies, as well as a mechanistic view of the universe to formulate ideas
-Through finding faults in Aristotelian views, he discovered what is now known as deductive reasoning
-Published thoughts and theories into written works
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Descartes effect on other scientists
-It is hard to say who specifically was inspired by Descartes since his discoveries have carried all the way through today, and became the foundation for philosophies and math that came after him
-Works assisted in improving the scientific method that is used today
-Cartesian dualism was mainly influential in France and Netherlands
-Wrote works in French instead of Latin so all could read them and learn to think individually (including women)
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The Struggles Faced by Descartes
-Descartes’ views on religious tolerance and certain beliefs created controversy
-Seeing Galileo’s punishment from the church after publishing similar views on science led him to suppress some of his own and fear the church
-Not a direct struggle, but some of Descartes radical approach to reasoning and philosophy was proved faulty- like his speculation that a natural vacuum was impossible to create