Descartes is often called the Father of (western) Modern Philosophy. With good reason: Descartes powerfully redirected the western conception of philosophical inquiry as well as articulated several philosophical views  – for instance, on knowledge, on the nature of persons, on the relation between mind and body – that continue to exert influence today even while they draw sharp criticism. We will read several of Descartes’ works carefully, along with writings by a range of critics, from his contemporaries to ours. This work will help us to answer the question: What is at stake in accepting or in rejecting Descartes’ positions?