France

Descartes' skull to go back to school

Article published on the 2009-01-06 Latest update 2009-01-06 14:20 TU

Portrait of René Descartes.

The skull of French philosopher René Descartes could be moving from its current home in Paris to a small town in north western France after a special request from his former school. But controversy surrounds the skull, its authenticity and whether it should be kept separate from his body.

The skull of famous French philosopher René Descartes could be on the move from its current resting place, the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, to the north western town of La Flèche.

Descartes, one of the founding fathers of modern philosophy developed theories which helped to provide a framework for natural sciences. He is most famous for his Discourse on the Method, his Principles of Philosophy and the expression cogito ergo sum, or "I think, therefore I am".

The remains of his body were separated shortly after his death in Sweden in 1650, and his skull is housed in the Musée de l’Homme in central Paris.

But with the backing of French Prime Minister François Fillon, the Prytanée military school has submitted an official request to move Descartes’ cranium to an adjoining church for display.

The school, run by Jesuits, was attended by Descartes from 1607 to 1615, and is looking to honour its alumni. They believe its current home alongside prehistoric man and a moulding of the head of footballer Lilian Thuram, is not suitable.

There is also an ongoing dispute about the authenticity of the remains, with four skulls that could theoretically be Descartes'.

The one requested by the school turned up in Stockholm in 1821, where he was originally buried, before his body was moved to Paris, where it now lies in the Saint Germain des Près church.

Some experts say the authenticity must be checked, while others believe it is more important to reunite his head with his body.