cartesian
/kɑrˈtiʒən/
adjective
- Relating to the French philosopher René Descartes or his ideas, especially his method of systematic doubt and the dualism of mind and body.
- The Cartesian philosophy emphasizes the separation of mind and body.
- Her approach to problem-solving is very Cartesian, starting from first principles.
- Many modern debates in philosophy still reference Cartesian dualism.
- Relating to a coordinate system that uses perpendicular axes (x, y, and sometimes z) to locate points in space.
- Engineers use Cartesian coordinates to design 3D models.
- In math class, we plotted points on a Cartesian plane.
- The Cartesian coordinate system is essential for graphing equations.
noun
- A follower of the philosophy of René Descartes.
- The debate between Cartesians and empiricists shaped modern philosophy.
- As a Cartesian, she believed that clear and distinct ideas are the foundation of knowledge.
- The Cartesians argued that the mind and body are distinct substances.