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Name: Rene Des Cartes
Born: April 1, 1596 in La Haye, Touraine, France.
Died: February 11, 1650 in Stockholm, Sweeden.
Notable Accomplishment: redefined most of Western philosophy with his methods.  Also invented the Catesian plane model for graphing mathematical co-ordinates.
The basics: Both a mathemetician and a philosopher, Des Cartes coined his catch phrase Cogito ergo sum ("I think, therefore, I am.") to encompass his entire philosophy.  By going back to what he believed was undeniably true, his science could be pure.  Des Cartes showed great aptitude for logic from an early age, although the demands that he put upon himself eventually led to some much needed "time off."  He died leaving behind a great body of writing.
 
 
 

Des Cartes Links

Des Cartes's Meditations
http://philos.wright.edu/DesCartes/Meditations.html

Brief article from Penny Magazine (1832)
http://www.history.rochester.edu/pennymag/001/tw.htm

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/d/descarte.htm

Quotes from Des Cartes
http://www.worldmedia.com/manucon/cards/cartes.htm

Biography focusing on Des Cartes as mathemtician
http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/Descartes/RouseBall/RB_Descartes.html

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