Cartesian

adj.
Of or relating to the philosophy or methods of Descartes.

[French cartésien (from René DESCARTES) and New Latin Cartesiānus (from Cartesius, Latin form of Descartes).]

Cartesianism Car·te'sian·ism n.

(kar-TEE-zhuhn)

adjective
Of or relating to Descartes, his theories, methods, or philosophy, especially its emphasis on mechanistic interpretation.

Etymology
From Cartesius, Latin form of Descartes, after philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650)

Usage
"To visit a modern CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) is to enter a world that, for all its technological sophistication, is still designed according to Cartesian principles: animals are machines incapable of feeling pain. Since no thinking person can possibly believe this any more, industrial animal agriculture depends on a suspension of belief on the part of the people who operate it and a willingness to avert your eyes on the part of everyone else." — Michael Pollan; An Animal's Place; The New York Times; Nov 10, 2002.

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Adjective derived from the Latin name of René Descartes: Renatus Cartesius.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

adj.

Relating to Descartes, a famous philosopher, author of the celebrated dictum, Cogito ergo sum -- whereby he was pleased to suppose he demonstrated the reality of human existence. The dictum might be improved, however, thus: Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum -- "I think that I think, therefore I think that I am;" as close an approach to certainty as any philosopher has yet made.

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