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For instance, Newton's ‘Mathematical principles of natural philosophy’ is heavily influenced by Euclid's ‘Elements’. Newton was highly influenced by the Elements. So I would call Newton's book a practical example of Euclid's Elements.

The question is: Where can I find practical example of the Descartes' work?

Is there a such book?

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  • I had some problems understanding your question. If you feel, I have answered it, is it ok with you if I edit your question to ask for...[harrumph] my answer more directly?
    – Einer
    Commented Sep 10, 2014 at 11:27
  • yes, it's indeed OK. Your answer was helpful thanks
    – Taeyun
    Commented Sep 10, 2014 at 11:30
  • Glad I could help!
    – Einer
    Commented Sep 10, 2014 at 11:47
  • 1
    But rewritten in these terms,the question is quite trivial : all Western Philosophy post-Descartes was influenced by Descartes' thought, exactly as all mathematics (pure and applied) was heavily influenced by Euclid. Commented Sep 10, 2014 at 13:00
  • 1
    Unfortunately, I think all of Western religion, science, philosophy, and psychology since...would be too conservative of an answer.
    – dgo
    Commented Sep 10, 2014 at 17:05

3 Answers 3

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Well it's hard to name a single book since Descartes heavily impacted all of western philosophy. A major work heavily influenced by Descartes would be The Monadology by Gottfried Leibniz. But there were a lot of philosophers inspired by Descartes - be it rejecting his ideas or approving of them. To drop some famous names: Spinoza, Pascal, Locke, Fichte or Husserl. Given that it is really hard to point out one the one single book analogous to Newtons 'Principia'

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Einer's answer is absolutely correct, but since your question specifically mentions "practical" impact, it's worth additionally mentioning that Descartes' work in mathematics was also hugely influential, since he invented Cartesian coordinates, without which you cannot do analytic geometry, calculus or nearly any other modern mathematical task.

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An example of a kind of "practical work" influenced by Cartesian philosophy is the Port Royal Logic, which was written by Arnauld and Nicole, and Pascal may have contributed as well.

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