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truth where it is at all of difficult discovery； as in such cases it is much
more likely that it will be found by one than by many。 I could； however；
select from the crowd no one whose opinions seemed worthy of
preference； and thus I found myself constrained； as it were； to use my own
reason in the conduct of my life。
But like one walking alone and in the dark； I resolved to proceed so
slowly and with such circumspection； that if I did not advance far； I would
at least guard against falling。 I did not even choose to dismiss summarily
any of the opinions that had crept into my belief without having been
introduced by reason； but first of all took sufficient time carefully to
satisfy myself of the general nature of the task I was setting myself； and
ascertain the true method by which to arrive at the knowledge of whatever
lay within the pass of my powers。
Among the branches of philosophy； I had； at an earlier period； given
some attention to logic； and among those of the mathematics to
geometrical analysis and algebra； three arts or sciences which ought； as I
conceived； to contribute something to my design。 But； on examination； I
found that； as for logic； its syllogisms and the majority of its other
precepts are of avail… rather in the munication of what we already
know； or even as the art of Lully； in speaking without judgment of things
of which we are ignorant； than in the investigation of the unknown； and
although this science contains indeed a number of correct and very
excellent precepts； there are； nevertheless； so many others； and these either
injurious or superfluous； mingled with the former； that it is almost quite as
difficult to effect a severance of the true from the false as it is to extract a
Diana or a Minerva from a rough block of marble。 Then as to the analysis
of the ancients and the algebra of the moderns； besides that they embrace
only matters highly abstract； and； to appearance； of no use； the former is
so exclusively restricted to the consideration of figures； that it can exercise
the understanding only on condition of greatly fatiguing the imagination；
and； in the latter； there is so plete a subjection to certain rules and
formulas； that there results an art full of confusion and obscurity
calculated to embarrass； instead of a science fitted to cultivate the mind。
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
By these considerations I was induced to seek some other method which
would prise the advantages of the three and be exempt from their
defects。 And as a multitude of laws often only hampers justice； so that a
state is best governed when； with few laws； these are rigidly administered；
in like manner； instead of the great number of precepts of which logic is
posed； I believed that the four following would prove perfectly
sufficient for me； provided I took the firm and unwavering resolution
never in a single instance to fail in observing them。
The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly
know to be such； that is to say； carefully to avoid precipitancy and
prejudice； and to prise nothing more in my judgement than what was
presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of
doubt。
The second； to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as
many parts as possible； and as might be necessary for its adequate
solution。
The third； to conduct my thoughts in such order that； by mencing
with objects the simplest and easiest to know； I might ascend by little and
little； and； as it were； step by step； to the knowledge of the more plex；
assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their
own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence。
And the last； in every case to make enumerations so plete； and
reviews so general； that I might be assured that nothing was omitted。
The long chains of simple and easy reasonings by means of which
geometers are accustomed to reach the conclusions of their most difficult
demonstrations； had led me to imagine that all things； to the knowledge of
which man is petent； are mutually connected in the same way； and that
there is nothing so far removed from us as to be beyond our reach； or so
hidden that we cannot discover it； provided only we abstain from
accepting the false for the true； and always preserve in our thoughts the
order necessary for the deduction of one truth from another。 And I had
little difficulty in determining the objects with which it was necessary to
mence； for I was already persuaded that it must be with the simplest
and easiest to know； and； considering that of all those who have hitherto
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
sought truth in the sciences； the mathematicians alone have been able to
find any demonstrations； that is； any certain and evident reasons； I did not
doubt but that such must have been the rule of their investigations。 I
resolved to mence； therefore； with the examination of the simplest
objects； not anticipating； however； from this any other advantage than that
to be found in accustoming my mind to the love and nourishment of truth；
and to a distaste for all such reasonings as were unsound。 But I had no
intention on that account of attempting to master all the particular sciences
monly denominated mathematics： but observing that； however
different their objects； they all agree in considering only the various
relations or proportions subsisting among those objects； I thought it best
for my purpose to consider these proportions in the most general form
possible； without referring them to any objects in particular； except such as
would most facilitate the knowledge of them； and without by any means
restricting them to these； that afterwards I might thus be the better able to
apply them to every other class of objects to which they are legitimately
applicable。 Perceiving further； that in order to understand these relations
I should sometimes have to consider them one by one and sometimes only
to bear them in mind； or embrace them in the aggregate； I thought that； in
order the better to consider them individually； I should view them as
subsisting between straight lines； than which I could find no objects more
simple； or capable of being more distinctly represented to my imagination
and senses； and on the other hand； that in order to retain them in the
memory or embrace an aggregate of many； I should express them by
certain characters the briefest possible。 In this way I believed that I could
borrow all that was best both in geometrical analysis and in algebra； and
correct all the defects of the one by help of the other。
And； in point of fact； the accurate observance of these few precepts
gave me； I take the liberty of saying； such ease in unraveling all the