Although there is no absolute certainty about the identity of the interviewer in the so-called Conversation with Burman, it was probably Frans Burman, who enrolled at Leiden University in 1643 to study theology. In 1650 he became minister of the Dutch Church at Hanau (Germany); in 1661, deputy dean of the Leiden Statencollege (a theological college for bursars of the States of Holland); and in 1662, professor of theology at Utrecht University. In theology, Burman was a follower of Johannes Coccejus (1603–69), one of the fathers of Covenant theology. This is basically a theology of history (with eschatological overtones) rather than a dogmatic, and philosophically articulated, system. As a result, it proved to be more compatible with Cartesianism, also because it allowed a clear demarcation between philosophical and theological spheres (see Calvinism). Burman was among the first to give it a more systematic form. This alone would have been enough to involve him in a controversy with the Voetians (see Voetius, Gysbertus); the fact that he was also known as being sympathetic with Cartesian philosophy made it definitely worse. The controversy focused on two points: the sanctification of the Sabbath (on which the Coccejans were rather relaxed) and the nature of the human mind, more particularly the question whether children in the womb can think and therefore have sinful thoughts – according to Burman's adversaries this would be the logical consequence of his Cartesianism, but it would contradict the Gospel, which speaks of “children not yet born, neither having done any good or evil” (Rom 9:11). Although he had never made such a claim, Burman admitted the possibility and managed to find an alternative interpretation of that text.

Burman's interest in philosophy presumably explains why, as a young student, he was introduced to Descartes, possibly by his professor of theology and future father-in-law Abraham Heidanus (1597–1678), who was a friend of Descartes. In any case, on April 16, 1648, he traveled to Egmond and interviewed Descartes on various questions. It is not known whether other people were present as well or whether this was the first (or the only) time Descartes and Burman met. The text, copied by Johannes Clauberg a few days later (April 20) in Amsterdam, shows that Burman had made a close study of Descartes’ works.