Descartes : his life and times / by Elizabeth S. Haldane.

  • Elizabeth Haldane
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Descartes : his life and times / by Elizabeth S. Haldane. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    77/448 (page 43)
    1617] LIFE AT BREDA 48 Why he kept to a profession he afterwards affected to despise, it is difficult to say : on the one hand, however, we know that in accepting the profession of arms, Descartes was but following the usual course for a young man who had the inclination to travel, and on the other, at this time at least, he had leisure for the work that interested him most. Prince Maurice, too, attracted around him quite a number of scientific men—mathe- maticians and the like—hence the young student was far from being cut off from congenial companionship. But he saw enough both of the wars and of the warriors of his time thoroughly to dislike them both, and he even went so far as to hesitate in giving the profession a place amongst other honourable occupations, consider- ing how much idleness and libertinage reigned in its midst. Idleness, at least, was not Descartes’ chief sin: every spare moment was filled with its special study. Much has been said of our hero’s courage and bravery in the field, but so far that courage had no trial. Breda was still in the possession of Maurice, and it was not till some time after Descartes left, in 1625, that Spinola once more regained it for the domination of Spain, after a long and wearisome siege. At this date peace reigned, and the quiet life was only broken by visits from mathematicians and engineers, to see those who were carrying on their work. In this way, Descartes came to know the learned Isaac Beeckman of Middel- berg, Principal of the College of Dort, not far off. Beeckman seems frequently to have visited the engineers in Maurice’s service, and above all, his professional mathematicians Jacque Aleaume, a pupil of Vieta, and Stevin.* At this time Holland was the scene of extraordinary material and intellectual activity. Her ships were seen everywhere, her commerce was immense, and she was allowed to be pre-eminent in agriculture as well as trade. But her achievements in science and industry were equally remarkable: the first optical instruments * Millet, Descartes avant 1637, p. 54.