René Descartes
- Born:
- March 31, 1596, La Haye en Touraine, Kingdom of France (now Descartes, Indre-et-Loire, France)
- Died:
- February 11, 1650, Stockholm, Sweden
- Nationality:
- French
- Profession(s):
- Philosopher, Mathematician, Scientist
Early Life and Education
- Born to Joachim Descartes, a lawyer, and Jeanne Brochard.
- Received a classical education at the Jesuit Collège Royal Henry-Le-Grand in La Flèche from 1607 to 1615.
- Studied law at the University of Poitiers, earning a degree in 1616.
- Became disillusioned with traditional learning and sought knowledge through experience and reason.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served in the Dutch States Army and the Bavarian Army, observing military engineering and gaining practical experience.
- Developed his analytical geometry, merging algebra and geometry.
- Published Discourse on the Method (1637), outlining his philosophical approach and promoting rational inquiry.
- Formulated the principle of methodological skepticism, questioning all previously held beliefs to establish a firm foundation for knowledge.
- Articulated the famous dictum "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), establishing the existence of the self as a starting point for philosophical inquiry.
- Spent his later years in the Netherlands, corresponding with intellectuals and developing his philosophical system.
- Accepted an invitation from Queen Christina of Sweden to become her philosophical tutor, leading to his early death from pneumonia in Stockholm.
Notable Works
- Discourse on the Method (1637)
- Geometry (1637)
- Meditations on First Philosophy (1641)
- Principles of Philosophy (1644)
- Passions of the Soul (1649)
Legacy and Impact
René Descartes is considered one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy and mathematics. His contributions to analytical geometry, methodological skepticism, and rationalism profoundly shaped the development of modern science and philosophy. He remains a key figure for understanding the history and foundations of modern thought, so a detailed 'rene dekart biography in hindi' becomes relevant for many people who seek to learn about his life and his work.