How did Descartes's ideas affect scientists during the Scientific Revolution? His philosophical approach was ignored by many scientists because it was not based in experimentation. Scientists viewed one's mind as controlled and determined by the state of one's body. Scientists viewed matter as something that could be investigated indepen- dently by using reason. His emphasis on doubt made scientists focus more closely on the works of classical Greece and Rome.

Descartes’s emphasis on reason and skepticism notably shifted the landscape of scientific inquiry during the Scientific Revolution. By advocating for a method of doubt, he inspired scientists to question established beliefs and seek empirical evidence. His famous declaration, "I think, therefore I am," encouraged a systematic approach that prioritized logical reasoning, provoking a wave of inquiry that would ultimately lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Moreover, Descartes’s philosophy provided a framework that helped scientists separate the physical world from metaphysical considerations. This distinction encouraged the view of matter as an independent entity open to exploration through experimentation and reason, paving the way for later innovators like Newton and Galileo to build on his ideas, leading to monumental leaps in understanding the natural world.