Definition
René Descartes (1596-1650) was a pivotal French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is known for his method of systematic doubt and his famous statement, 'Cogito, ergo sum' ('I think, therefore I am'). Think of him as the ultimate skeptic, questioning everything to find unshakeable truths. Descartes' work emphasized the importance of reason and individual thought. He sought to establish knowledge on a firm foundation of logical principles. His ideas profoundly influenced the development of modern philosophy and science.