But why would anyone care so much about the remains of one long-dead philosopher? The answer lies in Descartesβ famous phrase cogito, ergo sum: βI think, therefore I am.β At the root of this statement are skepticism and the world- shattering notion that one could look to facts that could be proved for truth rather than relying on the Churchβs teachings and tradition.
In the years that followed, this powerful idea and Descartesβ physical remains became intertwined with many of the major forces that define the modern era, influencing everything from the religious wars of the seventeenth century and the rise of democracy to todayβs greatest conflicts, such as the struggle between Islamic fascism and the Western world.
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