Descartes: A Biography

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Death in Sweden 

philosophy. These included Jacques Rohault, Pierre-Sylvain Regis, ́

Claude Gadroys, Louis de la Forge, Antoine le Grand, and Nicholas-

Joseph Poisson in France, and in the Netherlands, Arnold Geulincx,

Adriaan Heereboord, Johannes de Raey, and Johannes Clauberg. Others

again were sufficiently impressed by Cartesian ideas that they owe at least

the inspiration for their success to Descartes, such as Antoine Arnauld

and Christiaan Huygens.Their combined work exceeded even the most

extravagant expectations of an author who seemingly cherished his soli-

tude, as a necessary condition for completing his life’s work, more than

the recognition of his contemporaries.

Descartes died as he had lived: alone, except for one or two close friends;

geographically isolated; in exile from his native country, in a kingdom that

was officially Lutheran; still reflecting the bitterness and stubbornness of

a life filled with controversy; and still failing to be acknowledged for his

mathematical and philosophical genius.