René Descartes
French philosopher and mathematician (1596 to 1650); author of the Discourse on the Method (1637), the Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) and the Principles of Philosophy (1644).
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What they believe
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Having a vigorous mind is not enough; what matters most is applying it rightly
For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.
gutenberg.orgSaid 8 Jun 1637This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 6 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
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Having a vigorous mind is not enough; what matters most is applying it rightly
For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.
Discourse on the Method (tr. John Veitch, 1850) Said 8 Jun 1637
Knowing other nations' customs helps us judge our own and not dismiss different customs as irrational
It is useful to know something of the manners of different nations, that we may be enabled to form a more correct judgment regarding our own, and be prevented from thinking that everything contrary to our customs is ridiculous and irrational, a conclusion usually come to by those whose experience has been limited to their own country.
Discourse on the Method (tr. John Veitch, 1850) Said 8 Jun 1637
Nothing should be accepted as true unless it is known so clearly and distinctly that no ground for doubt remains
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 comprise nothing more in my judgement than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.
Discourse on the Method (tr. John Veitch, 1850) Said 8 Jun 1637
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I think, therefore I am, is certain enough to be the first principle of philosophy
But immediately upon this I observed that, whilst I thus wished to think that all was false, it was absolutely necessary that I, who thus thought, should be somewhat; and as I observed that this truth, I think, therefore I am (COGITO ERGO SUM), was so certain and of such evidence that no ground of doubt, however extravagant, could be alleged by the sceptics capable of shaking it, I concluded that I might, without scruple, accept it as the first principle of the philosophy of which I was in search.
Discourse on the Method (tr. John Veitch, 1850) Said 8 Jun 1637
A practical science of nature's forces could make humans the lords and possessors of nature
For by them I perceived it to be possible to arrive at knowledge highly useful in life; and in room of the speculative philosophy usually taught in the schools, to discover a practical, by means of which, knowing the force and action of fire, water, air the stars, the heavens, and all the other bodies that surround us, as distinctly as we know the various crafts of our artisans, we might also apply them in the same way to all the uses to which they are adapted, and thus render ourselves the lords and possessors of nature.
Discourse on the Method (tr. John Veitch, 1850) Said 8 Jun 1637
If anything can ever make people wiser and more ingenious, it is probably to be found in medicine
And this is a result to be desired, not only in order to the invention of an infinity of arts, by which we might be enabled to enjoy without any trouble the fruits of the earth, and all its comforts, but also and especially for the preservation of health, which is without doubt, of all the blessings of this life, the first and fundamental one; for the mind is so intimately dependent upon the condition and relation of the organs of the body, that if any means can ever be found to render men wiser and more ingenious than hitherto, I believe that it is in medicine they must be sought for.
Discourse on the Method (tr. John Veitch, 1850) Said 8 Jun 1637
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