In the 17th century, the French philosopher Rene Descartes came up with "Cogito ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am". This became the first principle in his philosophy. He formed the "Cartesian Method" which has "powerfully influenced the development of modern western thought".(interpretations pg1). Many people have had many different views and interpretations of Descartes' methods as well as his significance in History. Did Descartes' methods actually pave the way for contemporary philosophers or were his ideas far too obsolete? Did Descartes provide enough evidence to actually prove his theories and methods? This essay will answer these questions with the help of three authors by the names of Martial Geroult, Richard Watson, and finally Stephen Toulmin.
             Rene Descartes was born in 1596 in a town called La Haye which is now known as Descartes. Descartes was said to be "nourished on letters" (Discourse pg 3), which means he was raised on humanities. He was very well educated throughout his life studying at prestigious schools such as Poitiers and receiving two degrees in law. Descartes had desire to have a clear knowledge of everything that is useful in life and felt that this humanistic education would help him achieve this knowledge. However, it was not until one day in Germany where he had changed his mind. He was in a poele by himself in Germany and was able to think to himself. He developed so many doubts about what he has been taught in his life that he decided that his education and all humanities have been a complete waste of his time. He thought that the reasoning in his education was "merely probable" (Dis. Pg 7) because there were so many different opinions by so many different people. With these he realized that the reasoning of these different philosophers were as "close to the truth" (Dis. pg 7) as an ordinary man is about his own re...