The Philosophical School of Paris

The Philosophical School of Paris, primarily active in the 17th and early 18th centuries, was a hub of intellectual activity centered around the University of Paris. It fostered critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and debates about nature, existence, and knowledge, blending reasoning and empirical observation. Thinkers like Descartes contributed to its focus on rationalism and the scientific method. The school helped shift philosophy from strictly theological discussions to a more systematic exploration of human understanding and the natural world, laying groundwork for modern science and philosophy.