Rene Descartes was an influential French philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and writer. He was considered the “Father of Modern Philosophy” and a key figure in the Scientific Revolution. Descartes developed many new scientific ideas such as the idea to mechanize philosophy by using pieces of matter and their characteristics to explain the physical effects. http://www.iep.utm.edu/d/descarte.htm He also thought of the idea of using distinct elements to place together based on partial size to produce different physical bodies. During this time period, Descartes wasn’t the only Philosopher to come up with ideas; the Scientific Revolution began with Copernicus and his beliefs in Heliocentric Cosmos and ended with Newton’s Universal Laws. http://www.web.clas.ufl.edu/users/rhatch/pages/03-Sci-Rev/SCI-REV-Teaching/03sr-definition-concept.htm
For Rene Descartes, human knowledge functions the same way that a simple tree does. He explains this by saying that metaphysics forms the roots and physics creates the overall tree, while medicines, morals, and mechanisms become placed on the branches that eventually form knowledge. This goes out to prove that he was a strong believer in human minds; he was a dualist that believed in the soul (mind) and the human body. Descartes strongly wanted to point out that humans are actually the only creatures that possess a mind and that have the ability to fully control it. http://www.4learning.co.uk/support/programmenotes/micro/kntv/prog4.html
Based on Rene Descartes scientific thinking, the Scientific Revolution was greatly affected.
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8 comments:
I think this sounds like it is going to be a very interesting presentation. I am excited to be learning about the basic understanding of the cosmos. The one question I would want to know the answer of by the end of the presention is basically why? Why did he feel he needed to look into this topic more and how did he know there was more to find out and discover?
I am interested in the thoughts of Descartes. When doing my timeline, he was one of my key figures. His ideas created a platform for modern thought. Even though his ideas affect us today, one thing I would want to know from this presentation is how did his ideas catch on at first? How much did the people of the time period listen to him?
I think Descartes' metaphor for human knowledge is very intriguing. My question for the group is, how would his finding affect people's lives here on Earth?
This will be an interesting presentation. Its interesting how he compared humans to basic trees. I would like to know how he came up with these ideas? Also, how people reacted?
Descartes seems to have been influential in the blend between science and philosophy. Is there any experimentation, or any observations to Descartes claims? It seems he just states his 'mechanizing philosophy' claims to explain a lot of science's questions, rather than showing it with evidence.
It sounds like Descartes made many scientific advancements regarding cosmos. I am interested to find out more about this topic and why Descartes was so intrigued by cosmos. Also the impact it had on people living during that time period.
Descartes sounds like a very intelligent man, did he do anything else revolutionary during the scientific revolution?
I feel that Descartes was a very innovative thinker and I'm interested in the presentation, and his research and studies. How did the people of this early time period react to this idea??? Did they accept it, reject it, were they neutral??? Or did it cause a big stir up in the community because it was so new and invigorating.
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