descartes’ reason discourse(笛卡尔的推理)-第13章
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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 what course must
be taken to make the majority those experiments which may conduce to
this end： but I perceive likewise that they are such and so numerous； that
neither my hands nor my ine； though it were a thousand times larger
than it is； would be sufficient for them all； so that according as
henceforward I shall have the means of making more or fewer
experiments； I shall in the same proportion make greater or less progress
in the knowledge of nature。 This was what I had hoped to make known by
the treatise I had written； and so clearly to exhibit the advantage that
would thence accrue to the public； as to induce all who have the mon
good of man at heart； that is； all who are virtuous in truth； and not merely
in appearance； or according to opinion； as well to municate to me the
experiments they had already made； as to assist me in those that remain to
be made。
But since that time other reasons have occurred to me； by which I have
been led to change my opinion； and to think that I ought indeed to go on
mitting to writing all the results which I deemed of any moment； as
soon as I should have tested their truth； and to bestow the same care upon
them as I would have done had it been my design to publish them。 This
course mended itself to me； as well because I thus afforded myself
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more ample inducement to examine them thoroughly； for doubtless that is
always more narrowly scrutinized which we believe will be read by many；
than that which is written merely for our private use （and frequently what
has seemed to me true when I first conceived it； has appeared false when I
have set about mitting it to writing）； as because I thus lost no
opportunity of advancing the interests of the public； as far as in me lay；
and since thus likewise； if my writings possess any value； those into whose
hands they may fall after my death may be able to put them to what use
they deem proper。 But I resolved by no means to consent to their
publication during my lifetime； lest either the oppositions or the
controversies to which they might give rise； or even the reputation； such as
it might be； which they would acquire for me； should be any occasion of
my losing the time that I had set apart for my own improvement。 For
though it be true that every one is bound to promote to the extent of his
ability the good of others； and that to be useful to no one is really to be
worthless； yet it is likewise true that our cares ought to extend beyond the
present； and it is good to omit doing what might perhaps bring some profit
to the living； when we have in view the acplishment of other ends that
will be of much greater advantage to posterity。 And in truth； I am quite
willing it should be known that the little I have hitherto learned is almost
nothing in parison with that of which I am ignorant； and to the
knowledge of which I do not despair of being able to attain； for it is much
the same with those who gradually discover truth in the sciences； as with
those who when growing rich find less difficulty in making great
acquisitions； than they formerly experienced when poor in making
acquisitions of much smaller amount。 Or they may be pared to the
manders of armies； whose forces usually increase in proportion to
their victories； and who need greater prudence to keep together the residue
of their troops after a defeat than after a victory to take towns and
provinces。 For he truly engages in battle who endeavors to surmount all
the difficulties and errors which prevent him from reaching the knowledge
of truth； and he is overe in fight who admits a false opinion touching a
matter of any generality and importance； and he requires thereafter much
more skill to recover his former position than to make great advances
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when once in possession of thoroughly ascertained principles。 As for
myself； if I have succeeded in discovering any truths in the sciences （and I
trust that what is contained in this volume 1 will show that I have found
some）； I can declare that they are but the consequences and results of five
or six principal difficulties which I have surmounted； and my encounters
with which I reckoned as battles in which victory declared for me。 I will
not hesitate even to avow my belief that nothing further is wanting to
enable me fully to realize my designs than to gain two or three similar
victories； and that I am not so far advanced in years but that； according to
the ordinary course of nature； I may still have sufficient leisure for this end。
But I conceive myself the more bound to husband the time that remains
the greater my expectation of being able to employ it aright； and I should
doubtless have much to rob me of it； were I to publish the principles of my
physics： for although they are almost all so evident that to assent to them
no more is needed than simply to understand them； and although there is
not one of them of which I do not expect to be able to give demonstration；
yet； as it is impossible that they can be in accordance with all the diverse
opinions of others； I foresee that I should frequently be turned aside from
my grand design； on occasion of the opposition which they would be sure
to awaken。
It may be said； that these oppositions would be useful both in making
me aware of my errors； and； if my speculations contain anything of value；
in bringing others to a fuller understanding of it； and still farther； as many
can see better than one； in leading others who are now beginning to avail
themselves of my principles； to assist me in turn with their discoveries。
But though I recognize my extreme liability to error； and scarce ever trust
to the first thoughts which occur to me； yet…the experience I have had of
possible objections to my views prevents me from anticipating any profit
from them。 For I have already had frequent proof of the judgments； as
well of those I esteemed friends； as of some others to whom I thought I
was an object of indifference； and even of some whose malignancy and
envy would； I knew； determine them to endeavor to discover what
partiality concealed from the eyes of my friends。 But it has rarely
happened that anything has been objected to me which I had myself
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altogether overlooked； unless it were something far removed from the
subject： so that I have never met with a single critic of my opinions who
did not appear to me either less rigorous or less equitable than myself。 And
further； I have never observed that any truth before unknown has been
brought to light by the disputations that are practised in the schools； for
while each strives for the victory； each is much more occupied in making
the best of mere verisimilitude； than in weighing the reasons on both sides
of the question； and those who have been long good advocates are not
afterwards on that account the better judges。
As for the advantage that others would derive from the munication
of my thoughts； it could not be very great； because I have not yet so far
prosecuted them as that much does not remain to be added before they can
be applied to practice。 And I think I may say without vanity； that if there
is any one who can carry them out that length； it must be myself rather
than another： not that there may not be in the world many minds
inparably superior to mine； but because one cannot so well seize a
thing and make it one's own； when it has been learned from another； as
when one has himself discovered it。 And so true is this of the present
subject that； though I have often explained some of my opinions to
persons of much acuteness； who； whilst I was speaking； appeared to
understand them very distinctly； yet； when they repeated them； I have
observed that they almost always changed them to such an extent that I
could no longer acknowledge them as mine。 I am glad； by the way； to
take this opportunity of requesting posterity never to believe on hearsay
that anything has proceeded from me which has not been published by
myself； and I am not at all astonished at the extravagances attributed to
those ancient philosophers whose own writings we do not possess； whose
thoughts； however； I do not on that account suppose to have been really
absurd； seeing they were among the ablest men of their times； but only
that these have been falsely represented to us。 It is observable；
accordingly； that scarcely in a single instance has any one of their disciples
surpassed them； and I am quite sure that the most devoted of the present
followers of Aristotle would think themselves happy if they had as much
knowledge of nature as he possessed； were it even under the condition that
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they should never afterwards attain to higher。 In this respect they are like
the ivy which never strives to rise above the tree that sustains it； and which
frequently even returns downwards when it
