CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: E - Englishman Thomas Hobbes had a negative view on human nature, and in Leviathan (1651), he stated that the only way to rule men was under an absolute monarchy. He nevertheless believed in the equality of man and the rights of the individual. Hobbes is considered one of the first proponents of the “social contract.” Frenchman Blaise Pascal was a scientist and philosopher who believed that faith was more important than reason or empirical observation on matters of philosophy and theology. Francis Bacon, an English scientist and philosopher, advocated for the use of inductive, rather than deductive, reasoning in science and a scientific method based on empirical observation- a position he also advocated for one’s general approach to learning. René Descartes, a French mathematician and philosopher, made considerable contributions to both fields. He is considered both the “Father of Modern Philosophy” and “Father of Analytical Geometry.” His Cartesian coordinate system is became the foundation for adapting algebraic equations to geometric shapes. He also advocated the philosophical position that the body and the soul are separate entities, which is known as Cartesian duality.