<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> René Descartes (/ deɪˈkɑːrt /, UK also / ˈdeɪkɑːrt /; French: (ʁəne dekaʁt); Latinized: Renatus Cartesius; adjectival form: "Cartesian"; 31 March 1596--11 February 1650) was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist . Dubbed the father of modern Western philosophy, much of subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day . A native of the Kingdom of France, he spent about 20 years (1629--49) of his life in the Dutch Republic after serving for a while in the Dutch States Army of Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange and the Stadtholder of the United Provinces . He is generally considered one of the most notable intellectual representatives of the Dutch Golden Age . </P> <P> Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) continues to be a standard text at most university philosophy departments . Descartes' influence in mathematics is equally apparent; the Cartesian coordinate system (see below) was named after him . He is credited as the father of analytical geometry, the bridge between algebra and geometry, used in the discovery of infinitesimal calculus and analysis . Descartes was also one of the key figures in the Scientific Revolution . </P>

Who is generally considered to be the father of western philosophy