Summary Of Descartes Discourse On Method

It is a common belief that the true benefactors of humankind are those who hold high risk and high power positions—such as doctors, scientists and political leaders. Doctors heal the sick and allow people to live longer, healthier lives. Scientist continue to build off of previously discovered material and make advancements in technology. Politicians create and support the laws that we live by. Clearly, these three positions can be seen as immensely important to the advancement of mankind as a whole. However, just because those positions are so sought after, does that make those doctors, scientists and politicians the most beneficial members that humankind has? Descartes, in his Discourse on Method, would argue that these people are most definitely

We are all raised in a way that leads our lives in a certain direction and instills particular beliefs within us. This influence doesn’t necessarily come from family alone, however. It can come from other members of your community, certain educators you have had or even religions you follow. Descartes personally learned “not to believe too firmly anything of which I had been persuaded only by example and custom” (1, 15). He took the things that he saw and the things that were placed into his belief system by others, and essentially threw them out the window. One should not blindly follow all that they believe because how they were brought up may stray them from the truth. What one believes must have reason in order for the truth to be presented. To find your own truth you must look inside yourself and never to others. After all, Descartes firmly believes that anything organized by one person is better than those things organized by multiple people. He says that “. . . there is less perfection in works composed of several pieces and made by the hand of diverse masters than in those at which one alone has worked” (2, 1). Going back to the work of scientists—their work may be less perfect simply because they often work in teams, or they just build off of what is already known. The work they compose would be far more beneficial and valid if it were simply their own unique thoughts and discoveries that

Descartes, himself, says that “My intention has never extended beyond trying to reform my own thoughts and to build a base that is entirely my own” (2, 3). Once one accepts that what they have been told may be false, there are essential steps they must take in order to build their own beliefs up again. Going back to how things that are organized by one individual are better than those organized by multiple—a base that you form on your own is much stronger than a conglomeration of ideas you have previously heard. As one builds their beliefs back up it is extremely important to avoid prejudice (2, 7), divide what is known into parts (2, 8), arrange the parts from simple to complicated (2, 9), and then take notes to look back on and ensure that nothing has been left out (2,