how did modern science cause a rethinking for all philosophers after descartes?

Answer 1

below is an excellent site on descartes. basically he found a way to intellectually and scientifically erase doubt. seems to me he helped along "enlightenment" per say......as he helped hume, locke along etc. fascinating reading. hope this helped!!!

http://www.iep.utm.edu/d/descarte.htm

Answer 2

While Descartes' analytical,geometric approach seemed to belie the existence of a godhead, he didn't....It was not until Newton that the necessity of a "prime mover" "First cause"... and all the variations from Aristotle on ...were removed.

Descartes posited a godhead, his cosmology depended on it; however, it was [revisionist historians notwithstanding] not the "god" of the bibical, religious image...
So....for all philosophers after him...god as prime mover but not interactive in human affairs, not involved with interpersonal actions, not the infinite Santa Claus ..."making a list , checking it twice , seeing who is naughty or nice"
and while this view was politically incorrect at the time, it was not the first time such a view had been stated...but it was given-perhaps too much-credit by the intellectual reputation of Descartes

Spinoza for philosophers, Newton for scientific/mathematical "impact" makers

Answer 3

Principally by showing that to believe in supernatural intervention in the world's affairs was not only unnecessary but counterproductive.