Their common subject of philosophical studying was to get to know what the real knowledge was. Both of them focused on this question, trying to find out whether the mind and body took part in obtaining of knowledge. Descartes and John Locke, both seventeenth century philosophers, are often seen as two of the first early modern philosophers. Both Descartes and Locke attempted to find answers to the same questions in metaphysics and epistemology, for example what is knowledge? Is there certainty in knowledge? What roles do the mind and body play in the acquisition of knowledge?
Their common subject of philosophical studying was to get to know what the real knowledge was. Both of them focused on this question, trying to find out whether the mind and body took part in obtaining of knowledge. Descartes and John Locke, both seventeenth century philosophers, are often seen as two of the first early modern philosophers. Both Descartes and Locke attempted to find answers to the same questions in metaphysics and epistemology, for example what is knowledge? Is there certainty in knowledge? What roles do the mind and body play in the acquisition of knowledge?However, Descartes and Locke do not provide the same answers to these questions. Descartes was a rationalist, which means that he thought that knowledge of the world could be achieved by exercise of reason. As an empiricist, Locke believed that such knowledge could only be gained through the senses. Descartes believed that God is not the one who makes the laws but rather people thanks to their ability to be self-conscious. This belief came from his theories of dualism which established that people are in control of their own reality. Locke on the other hand was not as metaphysical, but rather believed that laws do and should come from people since it's their given right by birth and that people should decide who the rulers are democratically.