René Descartes, Vision and External Stimuli

René Descartes, Vision and External Stimuli

Woodcut of eyes on a human figure, represented above each other and focused on an arrow at right; lines extend from the eyes to the mid and terminal points of the arrow; also shown is portion of the brain responsible for automatic response. Appeared in Tractatus de homine, et de formatione foetus by Descartes, (1677) showing the relationship between the sensory perception of an image and muscular action. René Descartes (March 31, 1596 - February 11, 1650) was a French mathematician, philosopher and physiologist. Living on his modest inherited wealth, Descartes traveled, studied, wrote, and served as a soldier in Holland, Bohemia and Hungary. He created analytical geometry, which translates geometrical problems into algebraic form so that algebraic methods can be applied to their solution. Conversely he applied geometry to algebra. He propounded Cartesian dualism, stating that mind and matter are two distinct substances which can interact. He believed that god is the prime mover of matter, and that everything has a cause. Descartes died in 1650, at the age of 53, soon after becoming tutor to queen Christina of Sweden. The cause of death was said to be pneumonia.

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3600 x 4277 px | 44.1 MB

30.5 x 36.2 cm | 12.0 x 14.3 in (300 dpi)