17th-century philosophy

Seventeenth-century philosophy was a period of profound change, emphasizing reason, science, and individual thought. Thinkers like Descartes questioned how we can know anything exists beyond our own mind, leading to the idea "I think, therefore I am." Bacon promoted empirical methods, encouraging observation and experimentation. Others like Spinoza and Leibniz explored the nature of reality, existence, and God through logical reasoning. This era laid the groundwork for modern science and philosophy by shifting focus from tradition and religious authority to observation, doubt, and the pursuit of knowledge through rational inquiry.