Descartes, and His Method [pp. 314-319]

Descarites, and his Method.
it, nor so recondite and abstruse that he could be of any practical use, is in the
may not discover it. very spirit of the maxim of Descartes.
These four rules, in all their simplicity, The third maxim serves to check and
contain in themselves the whole science balance the second, which, if misunder of method. Many more, indeed, might stood or misapplied, might degenerate
be ranged under each one of them; but into blind obstinacy, or even lead to great
their author seems to have preferred to follies or even crimes. A man should
rely upon experience acquired by their conquer himself and not attempt to con practical application, for the details. quer destiny. We must abandon whatis
Whatever others may think of them, impossible; for there are things which
Descartes declares himself to be perfectly exceed our power. Our will must bend
satisfied with them on a review of what to circumstances. Finally, he examined
he was enabled to accomplish in mathe- the different avocations of men that he
matics alone. But he insists upon the might choose the best. Ilis device was
fact, that they are applicable to every a life of study, dedicated wholly to phi other design that mind or thought can losophy.
engage in. Thus, as he intended to travel "I shall say nothing of the employ and see the world, he began with a code ments of others: I thought it was best
of morals for his conduct, elaborated by for me to continue in that in which I was
his method. As it consists of but four then engaged, that is to say, to employ
simple rules, it may be exhibited here in my whole life in the cultivation of my
a very brief space. The first maxim was, reason, and to advance as far as possible
to recognise and submit to the laws and in the knowledge of truth, according to
customs of his country. The second, to the method which I had prescribed to
be resolute and persevering in every pur- myself. I had received so much satissuit and course of action when once de- faction from the results I had already
termined upon, even in those which were obtained from that method, that I bemost doubtful; because there are many lieved there was no occupation in life
cases in which men cannot command the preferable or more innocent." "Such has
same opportunities of leisurely delibera- been my experience in the past, and such
tion for their conduct, as they may in are my expectations for the future, that I
science and speculative inquiries. In this have a confirmed assurance that if among
case the general certainty; that is, the the employments of men, simply as men,
rule to persevere in what seems best upon there is any having a real importance and
deliberation, holds the place of particular value, it is the one I have chosen." With
certainty in every separate detail of action. these opinions, and with a confirmed and
For it is plain that those persons who undoubting religious faith, he set out on
from an exaggerated conscientiousness, his travels, and spent nine years in rollor from a vacillating and feeble character ing about the world, a spectator rather
are constantly changing their conduct, than actor in all the comedies that were
and abandoning their undertakings, from performed on that wide stage.
a suspicion of error or fallacy, are at the We shall here bring this rapid sketch
same time the most unhappy and the of the method of Descartes and the
most unsuccessful of men, and even, in history of its origin to a close, permitsome instances, do more harm than good ting ourselves in doing so a few observain this world merely by the misdirected tions concerning its character and use.
desire of good. If an example of this There is, in reality, but one method, and
rule may be suggested, surely none more that was unquestionably known, enuncistriking could be found than that untir- ated and used, long before his time. But
ing and continuous search for the expe- we have no space here to show the idendition of Sir John Franklin, which has tity of the different forms in which it
done such honour to our times. This, presented itself to different discoverers,
continued as it has been, long after it each of whom, in all sincerity and with
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