Descartes’ Discourse on Method: A Summary and Analysis
Discourse on Method: A Summary and Analysis
Discourse on Method: This book, in which Descartes speaks of the importance in daily life of following advice so that our lives are more ordered and neat.
The work is divided into six parts:
I) First Part: Principles of Rationality
Descartes states the principle of rationality. He supposes that reason is equal in all men, but not all are capable of arriving at the truth due to a lack of method. Nobody can easily find the truth if their reason is filled with immaturity, prejudices, and a lack of seeking. Descartes says, “It is not important to have a good understanding, but to apply it well.”
II) Second Part: The Four Rules of Method
Descartes outlines the four rules of his method:
- Admit nothing as true without knowing it to be evidently so, confirming it before giving it the status of “truth.” Only through establishing a unique rational criterion of truth can one be certain. For something to be evident, it must have two characteristics: be clear and distinct.
- The second rule establishes the principle of analysis: divide each difficulty into as many parts as possible and examine each part.
- The third rule proposes synthesis: begin with the simplest and easiest objects to know, and ascend little by little, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex. This is known as the deductive method, moving from the individual to the general.
- The fourth rule consists of enumeration and revision to ensure no omissions. This ensures science and intuition are evident.
III) Third Part: Provisional Moral Code
This part is dedicated to morality, based on the following rules:
- “Obey the laws and customs of my country, constantly conserving the religion in which God has granted me the grace to be instructed from childhood, governing myself in all other things according to the most moderate opinions and those farthest removed from extremes.”
- Once assimilated, one cannot live with attempts and doubts, so it is necessary to cling to attitudes of perseverance and persistence, and coherence in act and thought.
- Another rule that Descartes presents on morality is: “Try always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and to change my desires rather than the order of the world.”
In this way, Descartes applies reason and advances in the truth of knowledge according to the method he describes.
IV) Fourth Part: Methodical Doubt and Metaphysics
This part refers to methodical doubt and metaphysics, founded on: “Cogito ergo sum”: “I think, therefore I am.” In conclusion, he reaches his criterion that the truth must have the characteristics of clarity and distinction. With this, he demonstrates the idea of the existence of God as the basis for reason, for only He cannot allow our reason to be fooled.
V) Fifth Part: Analysis of the World
Descartes undertakes an analysis of “The World,” which he dared to publish subsequent to the condemnation of Galileo Galilei. This is a consequence of his metaphysics, extending from God and conscience to the world at large.
VI) Sixth Part: Reasons for Writing
Descartes speaks of the reasons he undertook to write this work, affirming that through his work, science should share its discoveries and experiences, to serve others.