Who Was Alive

Were René Descartes and Benedictus de Spinoza alive at the same time?

Yes. René Descartes and Benedictus de Spinoza were alive at the same time for 17 years, from 1632 to 1650.

René Descartes was 36 when Benedictus de Spinoza was born.

Benedictus de Spinoza was 17 when René Descartes died, aged 53.

René Descartes

French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist

Born 31 March 1596 · died 11 February 1650, aged 53

Benedictus de Spinoza

Dutch philosopher

Born 24 November 1632 · died 21 February 1677, aged 44

  1. Miguel de Cervantes
  2. Galileo Galilei
  3. William Shakespeare
  4. René Descartes
  5. Molière
  6. John Locke
  7. Benedictus de Spinoza
  8. Isaac Newton
René Descartes and Benedictus de Spinoza in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.