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the ideas of sense； for we are not infrequently deceived in the same
manner when awake； as when persons in the jaundice see all objects
yellow； or when the stars or bodies at a great distance appear to us much
smaller than they are。 For； in fine； whether awake or asleep； we ought
never to allow ourselves to be persuaded of the truth of anything unless on
the evidence of our reason。 And it must be noted that I say of our reason；
and not of our imagination or of our senses： thus； for example； although
we very clearly see the sun； we ought not therefore to determine that it is
only of the size which our sense of sight presents； and we may very
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
distinctly imagine the head of a lion joined to the body of a goat； without
being therefore shut up to the conclusion that a chimaera exists； for it is
not a dictate of reason that what we thus see or imagine is in reality
existent； but it plainly tells us that all our ideas or notions contain in them
some truth； for otherwise it could not be that God； who is wholly perfect
and veracious； should have placed them in us。 And because our
reasonings are never so clear or so plete during sleep as when we are
awake； although sometimes the acts of our imagination are then as lively
and distinct； if not more so than in our waking moments； reason further
dictates that； since all our thoughts cannot be true because of our partial
imperfection； those possessing truth must infallibly be found in the
experience of our waking moments rather than in that of our dreams。
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SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
PART V
I would here willingly have proceeded to exhibit the whole chain of
truths which I deduced from these primary but as with a view to this it
would have been necessary now to treat of many questions in dispute
among the earned； with whom I do not wish to be embroiled； I believe that
it will be better for me to refrain from this exposition； and only mention in
general what these truths are； that the more judicious may be able to
determine whether a more special account of them would conduce to the
public advantage。 I have ever remained firm in my original resolution to
suppose no other principle than that of which I have recently availed
myself in demonstrating the existence of God and of the soul； and to
accept as true nothing that did not appear to me more clear and certain
than the demonstrations of the geometers had formerly appeared； and yet I
venture to state that not only have I found means to satisfy myself in a
short time on all the principal difficulties which are usually treated of in
philosophy； but I have also observed certain laws established in nature by
God in such a manner； and of which he has impressed on our minds such
notions； that after we have reflected sufficiently upon these； we cannot
doubt that they are accurately observed in all that exists or takes place in
the world and farther； by considering the concatenation of these laws； it
appears to me that I have discovered many truths more useful and more
important than all I had before learned； or even had expected to learn。
But because I have essayed to expound the chief of these discoveries
in a treatise which certain considerations prevent me from publishing； I
cannot make the results known more conveniently than by here giving a
summary of the contents of this treatise。 It was my design to prise in
it all that； before I set myself to write it； I thought I knew of the nature of
material objects。 But like the painters who； finding themselves unable to
represent equally well on a plain surface all the different faces of a solid
body； select one of the chief； on which alone they make the light fall； and
throwing the rest into the shade； allow them to appear only in so far as
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SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
they can be seen while looking at the principal one； so； fearing lest I
should not be able to pense in my discourse all that was in my mind； I
resolved to expound singly； though at considerable length； my opinions
regarding light； then to take the opportunity of adding something on the
sun and the fixed stars； since light almost wholly proceeds from them； on
the heavens since they transmit it； on the planets； ets； and earth； since
they reflect it； and particularly on all the bodies that are upon the earth；
since they are either colored； or transparent； or luminous； and finally on
man； since he is the spectator of these objects。 Further； to enable me to
cast this variety of subjects somewhat into the shade； and to express my
judgment regarding them with greater freedom； without being necessitated
to adopt or refute the opinions of the learned； I resolved to leave all the
people here to their disputes； and to speak only of what would happen in a
new world； if God were now to create somewhere in the imaginary spaces
matter sufficient to pose one； and were to agitate variously and
confusedly the different parts of this matter； so that there resulted a chaos
as disordered as the poets ever feigned； and after that did nothing more
than lend his ordinary concurrence to nature； and allow her to act in
accordance with the laws which he had established。 On this supposition；
I； in the first place； described this matter； and essayed to represent it in
such a manner that to my mind there can be nothing clearer and more
intelligible； except what has been recently said regarding God and the soul；
for I even expressly supposed that it possessed none of those forms or
qualities which are so debated in the schools； nor in general anything the
knowledge of which is not so natural to our minds that no one can so
much as imagine himself ignorant of it。 Besides； I have pointed out what
are the laws of nature； and； with no other principle upon which to found
my reasonings except the infinite perfection of God； I endeavored to
demonstrate all those about which there could be any room for doubt； and
to prove that they are such； that even if God had created more worlds；
there could have been none in which these laws were not observed。
Thereafter； I showed how the greatest part of the matter of this chaos must；
in accordance with these laws； dispose and arrange itself in such a way as
to present the appearance of heavens； how in the meantime some of its
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SEEK