René Descartes: 1596-1650	Father of Modern Philosophy
Atomism	Some uses and abuses of cosmologies
Cartesian dualism	Ontology and profound explanations
Cartesianism v Evolution	His unresolvable anomalies
Descartes' Metaphysics	Exaggerated Intellectualism?
Return to Philosophy Page	Modern aftermath; Superman
The abiding paradox of René Descartes is that his monolithic reputation remains intact despite evidence that his opus did not, as is claimed for it, represent a "leap across the ages from the time of the Ancient Greeks" but was built as always upon the relentless advance of Science, which had in fact never slumbered. Neither did he advance much that had not been considered before. His cosmology offers little to scientists or philosophers; on every side he is refuted, doubts arise even about his integrity and yet still he stands. Perhaps he is merely the Icon of an implacable revolt against the 'explanations of Scholasticism' which leave the mind open to a Prime Mover 'whom all men call God'; but Descartes was a believer! His durability at least suggests enormous fields of study to modern psychology, for Cartesianism is the very measure of an epoch ... whether this be of good or ill. But in the end no man should be ignored who had been a cause of such a revolt. Nor shall we ignore him either.