René Descartes (31March1596-11February1650) wasaFrenchphilosopher, mathematicianandscientistwhospentmostofhislifeintheDutchRepublic.
Hehasbeendubbedthefatherofmodernphilosophy, andmuchsubsequentWesternphilosophyisaresponsetohiswriting, , hisMeditationsonFirstPhilosophycontinuestobeastandardtextatmostuniversityphilosophydepartments.
Descarteswasalsooneofthekeyfiguresinthescientificrevolutionandhasbeendescribedasanexampleofgenius.
