Johannes de Raey

Johannes de Raey (also: Raei) (Wageningen, 1622 – Amsterdam, 1702) was a Dutch philosopher and an early Cartesian.

He read philosophy with Prof. Adriaan Heereboord and on 16 July 1647 obtained his doctorate in medicine with Adolphus Vorstius.

De Raey was a dedicated follower of René Descartes, whom he knew personally, and who called him the best teacher of his doctrines.

Through his lectures and publications De Raey became one of the pioneers of the cartesian doctrine, influencing among others Leibniz.

De Raey felt that philosophy depended wholly on reason, and was detached from sensory perception and taught knowledge.