Descartes' theory of vortices soon became the accepted teaching about the mechanism of the solar system. Descartes himself proved, however, that philosophers who solve the mysteries of the world can commit fatal mistakes. After some deliberation and wavering, he accepted the insistent invitations to teach philosophy to Queen Christina of Sweden. He cared for nothing more in his habits as for a late rising. The cold nights and early morning hours in the winter of Sweden broke his health, and four months after arrival in Sweden he died there from pneumonia.
Cartesian philosophy finds many followers until today.