René Descartes: an author's studyRené Descartes was a 17th-century French mathematician and philosopher whose life's work focused on providing new insight into human perception of reality. Defining this reality is considered the greatest goal of Descartes' life. Considered the “Father of modern philosophy” (Cunningham & Reich, 2010, p. 385), Descartes laid the foundations of philosophy and reality as we perceive them today. Descartes' autobiography, Discourse on the Method for Conducting Reason Well and Seeking Truth in the Sciences (Descartes, 2004) shares with the reader a glimpse into the mind of a brilliant, yet fragile, man who provided a in-depth explanation on the perception of human existence and the reality in which we live today. The work, abbreviated as Discourse on Method for Modern Times, described in Cunningham & Reich (2010), focuses on Descartes' proof for the existence of God and forms the core of his argument and position on reality of man. & Work of the father of modern philosophyDescartes was born in LaHayer, France, on March 31, 1596. Educated in the Aristotelian school, he attended a Jesuit boarding school at the age of 8, then continued his studies of law at the age of twenty-two. His father placed increased emphasis on the importance of education, as he was a member of the provincial parliament of France. Descartes' mother died when he was young and so he was raised by his grandmother and then sent to boarding school. Descartes' schooling focused on theology and philosophy as well as science and mathematics, including the study of metaphysics and geometry. He was first considered a mathematician and then a philosopher by many, with the addition of his work...... middle of paper ......re & values, volume II: An investigation into the human sciences. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. Descartes, R. (2004). Discourse on the method for correctly conducting reason and seeking truth in the sciences. Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing, LLC Gillett, G.R. (1985). Brain, mind and soul. Zygon, 20(4), 425-434. Henry, John. (2001). The scientific revolution and the origins of modern science. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave PublishingKraus, P. and Hunt, F. (2007). René Descartes' speech on method: Translated with an interpretative essay. Newburyport: Focus PublishingRené Descartes. (2014). The website Biographie.com. Retrieved April 11, 2014 from http://www.biography.com/people/rené-descartes-37613. Vanhoozer, KJ (2005). Discourse on matter: hermeneutics and the “miracle” of understanding. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 7(1), 5-37.