Dr. William Marra presents a friendly phenomenologically-based view of Descartes, whose life and work he describes. Descartes’ influence, in fighting a magical view of nature, in turning inward to reach certitude, and in appealing to mathematical methodology as a guide for philosophy is critiqued. Taken from Regalism, Revolution, the Reign of Terror and the Assault on Catholicism (1648-1799) – 1998 VonHildebrand Institute