René Descartes (1596-1650) at a Glance

λ Born at La Haye, near Tours, France, March 31, 1596

λ Educated at La Flèche, a Jesuit college
λ “one of the most renowned schools of Europe” (DM 5)
λ Served in the military
λ In 1619, meets Isaac Beeckman, Dutch scientist, and begins mathematical study of nature
λ The events described in the Discourse apparently occur in November 1619
λ In 1629, he leaves France for Holland (no known reason)
λ In 1633, he prepares to publish a work in physics, called The World
λ argues, among other things, for a heliocentric view of the universe
λ hears of Galileo's condemnation in 1632 and suspends publication
λ “I learned that some people to whom I defer and whose authority over my actions can hardly be
less than that of my reason over my thoughts, had disapproved of an opinion in physics,
published a short time earlier by someone else...and this made me fear that there might
likewise be found among my opinions one in which I had been mistaken” (DM 60)
λ In 1637, he publishes Discourse on Method along with three scientific texts on optics, meteorology, and
geometry
λ “my purpose here is not to teach the method that everyone ought to follow in order to conduct
his reason well, but merely to show how I have tried to conduct my own” (DM 4)
λ The Discourse is a methodological preface to the scientific works
λ Mersenne suggests (AT I, 349-350) that the soul's nature and distinction from the body is
insufficiently explained; Descartes agrees, saying that this is because he has had to omit
skeptical arguments so as not to confuse readers
λ autobiographical; but is unclear how reliable it is
λ In 1640, he writes the Meditations on First Philosophy, his major work
λ Published in Latin 1641
λ French translation by the Duc de Luynes; published with Descartes's approval in 1647
λ Develops the metaphysical issues in the Discourse using skeptical arguments and the method of
hyperbolic doubt
λ Dedicated to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Paris
λ “I have always thought that two topics – namely God and the soul – are prime examples of
subjects where demonstrative proofs ought to be given with the aid of philosophy rather
than theology.” (AT VII, 1)
λ “principally aimed at proving the existence of God and of our souls, when they are separated
from the body” (letter to Mersenne, AT I, 182)
λ Gives a manuscript to Marin Mersenne to solicit comments from philosophers and theologians.
In addition to scattered objections collected by Mersenne, the commenters include a
scholastic named Caterus, Gassendi, Hobbes, and Arnauld.
λ A new edition published with the objections and Descartes's replies in 1642
λ In 1643, he receives a letter from Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia
λ This begins an extensive correspondence, Descartes's most famous
λ Primarily discusses relation between mind and body, and between philosophy and practical life
λ Leads to the writing and publication (1649) of Passions of the Soul
λ In 1644, publishes the Principles of Philosophy
λ In 1649, he moves to Stockholm to become the philosophy tutor of Queen Catherine of Sweden
λ Dies in Stockholm of pneumonia, February 11, 1650