Cartesian philosophy, initiated by Descartes in the 17th century, revolutionised epistemology through methodological scepticism and the cogito, while its substance dualism created the modern mind-body problem that occupies philosophy of mind to date. Descartes’ mechanistic view of nature enabled “modern science” by treating the physical world as mathematically describable extension, though this came at the cost of rendering consciousness inexplicable within his own system.
Politically, Cartesian dualism served colonial projects by denying interiority to those deemed less rational, while its radical separation of mind from body reinforced gendered divisions between reason and emotion.