12. He laid the foundation for 17th-century rationalism. It is a system of knowledge discarding perception as unreliable. What is his name: a)Descartes b) Kant c)Bacon d) Locke e)Occam f) Spinoza?

The correct answer is a) Descartes. René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist who is often credited with laying the foundation for 17th-century rationalism. Rationalism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the use of reason and logical analysis as the primary means of acquiring knowledge. Descartes' approach to philosophy, known as Cartesian rationalism, posits that knowledge can be gained through the use of reason and logical deduction, rather than relying solely on sensory perception, which he considered to be unreliable. Descartes' famous statement "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am") reflects his belief in the primacy of reason and the importance of self-awareness in the pursuit of knowledge.