René Descartes

René Descartes was a French mathematician, scientist, and philosopher considered the father of analytic geometry and modern rationalism.

He is best known for his works "Meditations on First Philosophy" and "Principles of Philosophy," which include his famous dictum "I think, therefore I am." Descartes invented the Cartesian coordinate system and made significant contributions to algebra and calculus.

His philosophy challenged Aristotelian views and influenced subsequent thinkers, including Spinoza and Leibniz.

Descartes' ideas on mind and mechanism laid the foundation for modern Western thought, particularly in the areas of epistemology and the mind-body problem.

His work continues to be studied and debated in philosophical circles.