Definition
René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is often called the 'father of modern philosophy.' Descartes is famous for his statement 'Cogito, ergo sum' ('I think, therefore I am'). He emphasized reason and doubt as paths to knowledge. Imagine building a house on a solid foundation of logic. His work profoundly influenced Western thought. He aimed to establish certain knowledge through systematic doubt and deduction.