Descartes’ Method: Philosophy in 17th-Century Europe
Descartes’ Method: A Response to the Crisis of 17th-Century Europe
Historical and Philosophical Context
With the Discourse on Method, published in 1637, René Descartes sought a reliable path to truth in science. This work emerged during a period of profound crisis, as the structures of medieval Europe crumbled, paving the way for the construction of modern Europe. It was a turbulent transition between old medieval patterns and the birth of a new era. Descartes’ philosophy is key to understanding this process. Let’s examine the historical, cultural, and philosophical context.
The 17th Century: A Time of Crisis and Change
The 17th century marked a period of profound social, political, and religious crisis, coinciding with the consolidation of absolute monarchies and the formation of nations. Religious positions were radicalized by the conflict of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, a struggle between Catholics and Protestants. The Thirty Years’ War ravaged much of Europe, significantly weakening its population.
Descartes’ work can be interpreted as a response to the philosophical crisis of the time. A political, social, and economic crisis converged with philosophical thought. The models built during the Middle Ages no longer provided sufficient security to meet the needs of the era. During the 16th century, the development of science challenged the validity of the Aristotelian-Thomistic system.
Descartes’ own experience in science led him to seek a satisfactory solution. He proposed reason as the means to resolve the crisis afflicting society.
Cultural and Intellectual Shifts
The printing press further encouraged the dissemination of culture beyond academic institutions. The Baroque period was characterized by pessimism. Movement, transience, doubt, and uncertainty were prevalent elements of the time.
The decline in the authority of both Aristotle and the Bible led philosophy to focus on knowledge, and human reason began to operate more freely. Three main currents of thought emerged in response to the crisis:
- Empiricism, represented by John Locke
- Rationalism, whose “father” is considered to be Descartes
- Skepticism, with representatives like Michel de Montaigne
Descartes’ strategy to overcome skepticism involved transforming it into methodical doubt.
Descartes’ Methodological Project
Descartes embarked on a methodological project to overcome the crisis, drawing inspiration from other prominent figures.
- Francis Bacon’s inductive method aimed to derive universal statements through observation and the creation of tables outlining the characteristics of phenomena. However, Bacon’s method differed from Descartes’ in its disregard for the importance of mathematics and hypotheses.
- Galileo’s resolutive-compositive method asserted that natural phenomena are expressed in the language of mathematics. Understanding them requires deciphering their relationships and formulating them mathematically.
The Scientific Revolution
Physics and astronomy were long dominated by the theories of Aristotle and Ptolemy. However, Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo spearheaded a scientific revolution that overturned the geocentric model and established heliocentrism.
Conclusion
Descartes’ philosophy represents a significant attempt to overcome the skepticism of Montaigne and establish a new foundation for modern thought.