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Introduction
Discourse of a Method for the Well Guiding of Reason and the Discovery of Truth in the Sciences
To the Understanding READER.
The Great DESCARTES (who may justly challenge the first place amongst
the Philosophers of this Age) is the Author of this Discourse; which in
the Originall was so well known, That it could be no mans but his own,
that his Name was not affix'd to it: I need say no more either of Him
or It; He is best made known by Himself, and his Writings want nothing
but thy reading to commend them. But as those who cannot compasse the
Originals of _Titian_ and _Van-Dyke_, are glad to adorne their Cabinets
with the Copies of them; So be pleased favourably to receive his Picture
from my hand, copied after his own Designe: You may therein observe the
lines of a well form'd Minde, The hightnings of Truth, The sweetnings
and shadowings of Probabilities, The falls and depths of Falshood; all
which serve to perfect this Masterpiece. Now although my after-draught
be rude and unpolished, and that perhaps I have touch'd it too boldly,
The thoughts of so clear a Minde, being so extremely fine, That as the
choisest words are too grosse, and fall short fully to expresse such
sublime Notions; So it cannot be, but being transvested, it must
necessarily lose very much of its native Lustre: Nay, although I am
conscious (notwithstanding the care I have taken neither to wrong the
Authours Sense, nor offend the Readers Ear) of many escapes which I have
made; yet I so little doubt of being excused, That I am confident, my
endeavour cannot but be gratefull to all Lovers of Learning; for whose
benefit I have Englished, and to whom I addresse this Essay, which
contains a Method, by the Rules whereof we may Shape our better part,
Rectifie our Reason, Form our Manners and Square our Actions, Adorn our
Mindes, and making a diligent Enquiry into Nature, wee may attain to the
Knowledge of the Truth, which is the most desirable union in the World.
Our Authour also invites all letterd men to his assistance in the
prosecution of this Search; That for the good of Mankinde, They would
practise and communicate Experiments, for the use of all those who
labour for the perfection of Arts and Sciences: Every man now being
obliged to the furtherance of so beneficiall an Undertaking, I could not
but lend my hand to open the Curtain, and discover this New Model of
Philosophy; which I now publish, neither to humour the present, nor
disgust former times; but rather that it may serve for an innocent
Divertisement to those, who would rather Reform themselves, then the
rest of the world; and who, having the same seeds and grounds, and
knowing That there is nothing New under the Sun; That Novelty is but
Oblivion, and that Knowledge is but Remembrance, will study to finde
out in themselves, and restore to Posterity those lost Arts, which
render Antiquity so venerable; and strive (if it be possible) to go
beyond them in other things, as well as Time: Who minde not those things
which are above, beyond, or without them; but would rather limit their
desires by their power, then change the Course of Nature; Who seek the
knowledge, and labour for the Conquest of themselves; Who have Vertue
enough to make their own Fortune; And who prefer the Culture of the
Minde before the Adorning of the Body; To such as these I present this
Discourse (whose pardon I beg, for having so long detain'd them from so
desirable a Conversation;) and conclude with this Advice of the Divine
_Plato_:
_Cogita in te, praeter Animum, nihil esse mirabile._
A DISCOURSE OF A METHOD, For the wel-guiding of Reason; AND The
discovery of Truth in the SCIENCES.
_If this Discourse seem too long to be read at once, it may be divided
into six parts. In the first, are divers Considerations touching the
Sciences. In the second, the principall Rules of that Method which the
Author hath studyed. In the third, some of those in morality, which he
hath drawn from this Method. In the fourth, the reasons whereby the
existence of God and of the humane Soul is proved; which are the
grounds of his Metaphysicks. In the fift, the order of these Physicall
questions, which he hath examined, and particularly the explication of
the hearts motion; with some other difficulties relating to Physick; as
also the difference between our Souls and those of beasts. In the last,
what he conceives requisit to make a further inquiry into Nature, then
hath hitherto been made. And what reasons induc'd him to write. _