Descartes (René Descartes)

René Descartes was a 17th-century French philosopher and mathematician often called the "Father of Modern Philosophy." He emphasized the importance of doubt and questioning as a way to find certain truth, famously stating "I think, therefore I am." Descartes believed the mind and body are separate but connected, and he contributed to the development of analytical geometry, linking algebra and geometry. His ideas laid the foundation for scientific reasoning and modern philosophy by encouraging critical thinking and systematic doubt as tools for discovery.