Baranger examines Descartes' Discourse on Method and his Meditations with special reference to Descartes' autobiographical remarks. 'Descartes remains indifferent to the "ordinary" pursuits of most men … such as honors and wealth, because according to Descartes' own philosophy, "he who lives hidden lives well".' He lost his mother when he was a year old, 'a fact confused by Descartes in his statements as if he did not know when and why she died'. He married 'a Protestant girl … and eventually led a life of conflict because he was attacked by all the scholars of his time' including Catholics and Protestants. He lost his daughter Francine at an early age and himself died at fifty-three of 'disease of the lungs', as had his mother. His eternal doubts were determined by his having