Descartes Discourse

Our text today is the beginning of Part One of Descartes’ Discourse on Method.

First, note the title: Discourse on the Method for Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and

for Seeking Truth in the Sciences.

With this title, Descartes is promising us a discussion of the right way to use our minds

to find out the truth about the natural world.

Specifically, he will give us a method for using our reason properly.

Descartes believes that our success in knowing the world depends on the method we use to

govern our minds.

In the first paragraph of Part One, Descartes makes several important claims.

Let’s run through them.

First.

Good sense is evenly distributed in the world.

Second.

We know this because everyone considers himself to be sensible, and no one wants more good

sense than he already has.

Third.

It is likely that people are correct in thinking themselves sensible.

Fourth.

The power to judge true from false correctly is naturally equal in all people.

Fifth.

Therefore, people’s differing opinions (some right, some wrong) must result from their

using different methods to govern their thoughts and direct their inquiries.

Sixth.

“It is not enough to have a good mind;" writes Descartes, "the main thing is to use it well.”

Seventh.

If we always follow the correct path, we may advance slowly, but we will make greater progress

than those who follow the wrong path.

Let’s pause now and consider where Descartes has taken us in this paragraph.

Starting with an observation about common sense (that everyone thinks he has it),

he has asserted that people’s reasoning powers are naturally equal.

From this, he concludes that differences of opinion (including some false judgments) must

result from the different ways that people use their naturally equal minds.

That is, people pay attention to different things, and they use different methods in

forming their judgments and beliefs about the world.

“The main thing,” Descartes says, “is to use [the mind] well.”

This is how we get to the truth.

And finally, he suggests that the slow and steady use of the right method will take us

toward the truth faster than the wild and indiscriminate use of the wrong methods.

So the title and this first paragraph give us a good idea of where Descartes is planning

to go: he will give us a method—THE method, in fact—for governing our minds properly.

Consistent use of this method, he promises, will allow us to form true beliefs about the world.

So that sets up the rest of Part One, and the rest of the Discourse.

Thanks for watching today; goodbye.