Descartes: A Biography

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Death in Sweden 

combined duty with friendship by referring to Chanut, who had asked him

almost as a special favour to indulge the queen’s whims and, perhaps, to

help cement the cordial diplomatic relations that were developing between

the two kingdoms of France and Sweden. Whatever reason he might have

offered, he cannot have relied on the penchant for travel that he displayed

in his youth; it had been clear for quite some time that he wished to avoid

onerous journeys, especially by sea.

In these circumstances, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that a strong

desire to be honoured – almost anywhere, by any royal person – was part

of his motivation. There were signs of this already in, when he was

so disappointed with the almost meaningless parchment he had received

from Paris. His threat to leave Holland had similar connotations of regret

that his philosophical genius was not adequately acknowledged by Dutch

theologians. In fact, during much of his life he seemed to complain of a

failure by others, in France and in the United Provinces, to appreciate his

contributions to philosophy. Now perhaps, in the far North, the Queen of

Sweden might eventually provide the public recognition that he thought

he deserved. She might also provide the financial security that had eluded

him for so long, and which he may have considered even more necessary

with his advancing age.

The Reluctant Traveller

None of these considerations, however, was enough to persuade Descartes

to make a firm decision. He was extremely reluctant to leave Egmond, even

if the tentative plan was merely to visit Stockholm for a relatively short

time and then return to his refuge in Holland. He gives the impression of

having agreed to accept Queen Christina’s invitation in April, when

he wrote to Brasset (in The Hague) and to Clerselier and Picot (who were

both in Paris) that he had reached a decision. He pondered the various

options available at the time. It was impossible to return to France in the

short term, until the political disturbances associated with the Fronde

were resolved, and Descartes had no way of knowing then that such a

resolution was going to take another four years. His preferred option was

to remain in Egmond – which, ‘although it does not have as much honey as

God promised the Israelites, it is plausible to think that it has more milk.’

When he wrote to Clerselier the same day, his provisional decision was

qualified by continuing uncertainty and a distinct lack of enthusiasm for