descartes’ reason discourse(笛卡尔的推理)-第12章
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the same nature with our own； and consequently that after this life we
have nothing to hope for or fear； more than flies and ants； in place of
which； when we know how far they differ we much better prehend the
reasons which establish that the soul is of a nature wholly independent of
the body； and that consequently it is not liable to die with the latter and；
finally； because no other causes are observed capable of destroying it； we
are naturally led thence to judge that it is immortal。
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
PART VI
Three years have now elapsed since I finished the treatise containing
all these matters； and I was beginning to revise it； with the view to put it
into the hands of a printer； when I learned that persons to whom I greatly
defer； and whose authority over my actions is hardly less influential than is
my own reason over my thoughts； had condemned a certain doctrine in
physics； published a short time previously by another individual to which I
will not say that I adhered； but only that； previously to their censure I had
observed in it nothing which I could imagine to be prejudicial either to
religion or to the state； and nothing therefore which would have prevented
me from giving expression to it in writing； if reason had persuaded me of
its truth； and this led me to fear lest among my own doctrines likewise
some one might be found in which I had departed from the truth；
notwithstanding the great care I have always taken not to accord belief to
new opinions of which I had not the most certain demonstrations； and not
to give expression to aught that might tend to the hurt of any one。 This
has been sufficient to make me alter my purpose of publishing them； for
although the reasons by which I had been induced to take this resolution
were very strong； yet my inclination； which has always been hostile to
writing books； enabled me immediately to discover other considerations
sufficient to excuse me for not undertaking the task。 And these reasons； on
one side and the other； are such； that not only is it in some measure my
interest here to state them； but that of the public； perhaps； to know them。
I have never made much account of what has proceeded from my own
mind； and so long as I gathered no other advantage from the method I
employ beyond satisfying myself on some difficulties belonging to the
speculative sciences； or endeavoring to regulate my actions according to
the principles it taught me； I never thought myself bound to publish
anything respecting it。 For in what regards manners； every one is so full
of his own wisdom； that there might be found as many reformers as heads；
if any were allowed to take upon themselves the task of mending them；
except those whom God has constituted the supreme rulers of his people
or to whom he has given sufficient grace and zeal to be prophets； and
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
although my speculations greatly pleased myself； I believed that others
had theirs； which perhaps pleased them still more。 But as soon as I had
acquired some general notions respecting physics； and beginning to make
trial of them in various particular difficulties； had observed how far they
can carry us； and how much they differ from the principles that have been
employed up to the present time； I believed that I could not keep them
concealed without sinning grievously against the law by which we are
bound to promote； as far as in us lies； the general good of mankind。 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。
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 forts； 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。 It is true
that the science of medicine； as it now exists； contains few things whose
utility is very remarkable： but without any wish to depreciate it； I am
confident that there is no one； even among those whose profession it is；
who does not admit that all at present known in it is almost nothing in
parison of what remains to be discovered； and that we could free
ourselves from an infinity of maladies of body as well as of mind； and
perhaps also even from the debility of age； if we had sufficiently ample
knowledge of their causes； and of all the remedies provided for us by
nature。 But since I designed to employ my whole life in the search after
so necessary a science； and since I had fallen in with a path which seems
to me such； that if any one follow it he must inevitably reach the end
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
desired； unless he be hindered either by the shortness of life or the want of
experiments； I judged that there could be no more effectual provision
against these two impediments than if I were faithfully to municate to
the public all the little I might myself have found； and incite men of
superior genius to strive to proceed farther； by contributing； each
according to his inclination and ability； to the experiments which it would
be necessary to make； and also by informing the public of all they might
discover； so that； by the last beginning where those before them had left
off； and thus connecting the lives and labours of many； we might
collectively proceed much farther than each by himself could do。
I remarked； moreover； with respect to experiments； that they bee
always more necessary the more one is advanced in knowledge； for； at the
mencement； it is better to make use only of what is spontaneously
presented to our senses； and of which we cannot remain ignorant； provided
we bestow on it any reflection； however slight； than to concern ourselves
about more unmon and recondite phenomena： the reason of which is；
that the more unmon often only mislead us so long as the causes of the
more ordinary are still unknown； and the circumstances upon which they
depend are almost always so special and minute as to be highly difficult to
detect。 But in this I have adopted the following order： first； I have
essayed to find in general the principles； or first causes of all that is or can
be in the world； without taking into consideration for this end anything but
God himself who has created it； and without educing them from any other
source than from certain germs of truths naturally existing in our minds In
the second place； I examined what were the first and most ordinary effects
that could be deduced from these causes； and it appears to me that； in this
way； I have found heavens； stars； an earth； and even on the earth water； air；
fire； minerals； and some other things of this kind； which of all others are
the most mon and simple； and hence the easiest to know。 Afterwards
when I wished to descend to the more particular； so many diverse objects
presented themselves to me； that I believed it to be impossible for the
human mind to distinguish the forms or species of bodies that are upon the
earth； from an infinity of others which might have been； if it had pleased
God to place them there； or consequently to apply them to our use； unless
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
we rise to causes through their effects； and avail ourselves of many
particular experiments。 Thereupon； turning over in my mind I the objects
that had ever been presented to my senses I freely venture to state that I
have never observed any which I could not satisfactorily explain by the
principles had discovered。 But it is necessary also to confess that the
power of nature is so ample and vast； and these principles so simple and
general； that I have hardly observed a single particular effect which I
cannot at once recognize as capable of being deduced in man different
modes from the principles； and that my greatest difficulty usually is to
discover in which of these modes the effect is dependent upon them； for
out of this difficulty cannot otherwise extricate myself than by again
seeking certain experiments； which may be such that their result is not the
same； if it is in the one of these modes at we must explain it； as it would be
if it were to be explained in the other。 As to what remains； I am now in a
position to discern； as I think； with sufficient clearness wha
