Descartes, René

René Descartes was a 17th-century French philosopher and mathematician, often called the "father of modern philosophy." He is best known for his statement "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), which emphasizes the importance of doubt and self-awareness in establishing knowledge. Descartes sought to find a firm foundation for science and used reason and mathematics to understand the world. His work laid the groundwork for modern philosophical inquiry and contributed to advancements in geometry and science. Overall, he focused on using rational thought to distinguish what can be known with certainty from what cannot.