Rene+Descarte


 * Done by: Desiree, Ling Ying, Madeline, Caitlan and Brillia**
 * René** **Descartes - The Scientific Method**
 * **Born:** 31 March 1596
 * **Birthplace:** La Haye, France
 * **Died:** 11 February 1650


 * Descartes' History**

When Descartes was one year old, his mother Jeanne Brochard died of tuberculosis. His father Joachim was a member in the provincial parliament.

Around the age of eleven, he entered the Jesuit Collège Royal Henry-Le-Grand at La Flèche. After graduation, he studied at the University of Poitiers, earning a Baccalauréat and Licence in law in 1616, in accordance with his father's wishes that he should become a lawyer. In the summer of 1618 he joined the army of Maurice of Nassau in the Dutch Republic. On 10 November 1618, while walking through Breda, Descartes met Isaac Beeckman, who sparked his interest in mathematics and the new physics, particularly the problem of the fall of heavy bodies.


 * Scientific Method**

Descartes believed that with the exception of mathematics, the methods used by previous authorities in science were unsystematic, and since medieval science was largely based on authorities from the past rather than observations in the present, he decided to adopt a personal scientific method. Descartes' search for a new method grew out of a desire to resolve the endless disputes of philosophers over every conceivable issue - he wanted to build a view of the world that all rational men would accept. Also, he hoped to be able to build a new system of truth based on an unquestionable first principle, "I think, therefore I am", by using his new method of reasoning to build upon such a first principle, ultimately leading to the unification of all knowledge.

Rene Descartes adopted a scientific method similar to that of the Baconian method, which was introduced by Sir Francis Bacon. Descartes' did not actually disdain empirical research - in fact, he quite enjoyed making observations and experiments, but his emphasis was on the abstract character of science. Thus, his scientific method involved more emphasis on inductive reasoning (rationalization and logic) than compared to deductive reasoning (based on experiences or observations made using the 5 senses). In addition, his core principle was that one must seek not only to build on old foundations of knowledge, but should look for other fertile land to build knowledge upon.

Elaborating on his core principle, Descartes’ scientific method consisted of four main precepts— 1. Filter away all that may be in doubt, and accept only that which you are sure of 2. Break a problem down into parts 3. Start with the simplest problems first (solve in ascending order of complexity of knowledge), then deducing one conclusion from another. 4. Make complete enumerations (an exact listing of all its elements) and general reviews, to ensure that nothing is omitted.


 * Descartes' Contributions**

__Mathematics__ >Theory of applying infinitesimal calculus to the tangent line problem n Provided the basis for the calculus of Newton and Leibniz  n   Permitted the evolution of that branch of modern mathematics

>Introduced the Cartesian coordinates and the Cartesian curves

>Invention of co-ordinate geometry n D iscovered that two co-ordinates could be used to determine a point in a plane, and that a point in space could be similarly determined by using three co-ordinates.)

>Founder of analytical geometry

>Contributed to algebra n Treatment  of negative roots and the convention of exponent notation

__Physics__ >Made advances in optics n Used geometric construction and the law of refraction to show that the angular radius of a rainbow is 42 degrees n Independently discovered the law of reflection

__Psychology__

> Contended that emotion was physiological at its base, therefore, the control of the physical expression of emotion would control the emotions themselves n Chief piece of work: // Traité des passions de l'âme // (published in 1649)

__Mechanics__ >Discovered how great forces can be generated by small means n Pulley, the wedge, the lever, the vice, and the wheel. >Formulated laws of inertia, impact and impetus.

__Cosmology__ >Introduced a significant theory of vortices which attempted to explain the phenomena of the whole universe that are true of things in Earth (reflection of his inductive scientific method) n God created matter and endowed it with motion. Motion of matter results in vortices n The sun is in the center of an immense vortex or whirlpool of this matter in which the planets are swept around n E ach planet is the center of a secondary whirlpool by which satellites are carried

**Bibliography:** [] [] [] [] Gay, Peter. (1966) //Great Ages of Man: Age of Enlightenment.// Time Life Books, 1966. ​