Explain Descartes’s Scientific Method.

René Descartes, a 17th-century philosopher and mathematician, developed a distinctive scientific method characterized by systematic doubt, deductive reasoning, and mathematical precision. His method aimed at establishing a foundation of indubitable knowledge.

1. Methodical Doubt:
   Descartes advocated radical doubt as a starting point. He doubted everything that could be doubted, including sensory perceptions and even the existence of the external world. The goal was to strip away any beliefs that could be uncertain.

2. Cogito, Ergo Sum (I think, therefore I am):
   Amidst the process of doubt, Descartes reached a foundational certainty in the existence of the thinking self. The act of doubt itself affirmed the reality of his own consciousness.

3. Clear and Distinct Ideas:
   Descartes emphasized the importance of clear and distinct ideas as a criterion for truth. Ideas that are clear and distinct, especially those established through mathematical reasoning, were deemed reliable.

4. Systematic Deduction:
   Descartes used deductive reasoning to build a system of knowledge. Starting with the certainty of his own existence, he then established the existence of God as a guarantor of the reliability of clear and distinct ideas.

5. Mathematical Method:
   Descartes believed in the mathematical precision and certainty as a model for achieving knowledge. He applied mathematical reasoning to various aspects of science, viewing the world as a mathematical system governed by laws.

Descartes' scientific method laid the groundwork for the development of modern science and the Enlightenment. While some aspects of his method have evolved, his emphasis on systematic doubt, clear reasoning, and the application of mathematics has left a lasting impact on the scientific approach to understanding the natural world.