The first attempt at reforming mathematics

pp. 95-157

in: Chikara Sasaki, Descartes's mathematical thought, Berlin, Springer, 2003

Abstract

The inspiration which led Descartes to his reform of traditional mathematical thought took place soon after his encounter in the autumn of 1618 with Isaac Beeckman, a Dutch scholar his senior by eight years. The significance of this meeting for him is shown clearly in his letter of April 23, 1619 to Beeckman: "You are truly the only one who awoke [me] from sloth, recalled erudition which had almost passed away from memory, and bettered my mind which was drifting away from serious occupations."¹