descartes’ reason discourse(笛卡尔的推理)-第3章
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all times certain officers whose duty it was to see that private buildings
contributed to public ornament； the difficulty of reaching high perfection
with but the materials of others to operate on； will be readily
acknowledged。 In the same way I fancied that those nations which；
starting from a semi…barbarous state and advancing to civilization by slow
degrees； have had their laws successively determined； and； as it were；
forced upon them simply by experience of the hurtfulness of particular
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crimes and disputes； would by this process e to be possessed of less
perfect institutions than those which； from the mencement of their
association as munities； have followed the appointments of some wise
legislator。 It is thus quite certain that the constitution of the true religion；
the ordinances of which are derived from God； must be inparably
superior to that of every other。 And； to speak of human affairs； I believe
that the pre…eminence of Sparta was due not to the goodness of each of its
laws in particular； for many of these were very strange； and even opposed
to good morals； but to the circumstance that； originated by a single
individual； they all tended to a single end。 In the same way I thought that
the sciences contained in books （such of them at least as are made up of
probable reasonings； without demonstrations）； posed as they are of the
opinions of many different individuals massed together； are farther
removed from truth than the simple inferences which a man of good sense
using his natural and unprejudiced judgment draws respecting the matters
of his experience。 And because we have all to pass through a state of
infancy to manhood； and have been of necessity； for a length of time；
governed by our desires and preceptors （whose dictates were frequently
conflicting； while neither perhaps always counseled us for the best）； I
farther concluded that it is almost impossible that our judgments can be so
correct or solid as they would have been； had our reason been mature from
the moment of our birth； and had we always been guided by it alone。
It is true； however； that it is not customary to pull down all the houses
of a town with the single design of rebuilding them differently； and
thereby rendering the streets more handsome； but it often happens that a
private individual takes down his own with the view of erecting it anew；
and that people are even sometimes constrained to this when their houses
are in danger of falling from age； or when the foundations are insecure。
With this before me by way of example； I was persuaded that it would
indeed be preposterous for a private individual to think of reforming a
state by fundamentally changing it throughout； and overturning it in order
to set it up amended； and the same I thought was true of any similar
project for reforming the body of the sciences； or the order of teaching
them established in the schools： but as for the opinions which up to that
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time I had embraced； I thought that I could not do better than resolve at
once to sweep them wholly away； that I might afterwards be in a position
to admit either others more correct； or even perhaps the same when they
had undergone the scrutiny of reason。 I firmly believed that in this way I
should much better succeed in the conduct of my life； than if I built only
upon old foundations； and leaned upon principles which； in my youth； I
had taken upon trust。 For although I recognized various difficulties in
this undertaking； these were not； however； without remedy； nor once to be
pared with such as attend the slightest reformation in public affairs。
Large bodies； if once overthrown； are with great difficulty set up again； or
even kept erect when once seriously shaken； and the fall of such is always
disastrous。 Then if there are any imperfections in the constitutions of
states （and that many such exist the diversity of constitutions is alone
sufficient to assure us）； custom has without doubt materially smoothed
their inconveniences； and has even managed to steer altogether clear of； or
insensibly corrected a number which sagacity could not have provided
against with equal effect； and； in fine； the defects are almost always more
tolerable than the change necessary for their removal； in the same manner
that highways which wind among mountains； by being much frequented；
bee gradually so smooth and modious； that it is much better to
follow them than to seek a straighter path by climbing over the tops of
rocks and descending to the bottoms of precipices。
Hence it is that I cannot in any degree approve of those restless and
busy meddlers who； called neither by birth nor fortune to take part in the
management of public affairs； are yet always projecting reforms； and if I
thought that this tract contained aught which might justify the suspicion
that I was a victim of such folly； I would by no means permit its
publication。 I have never contemplated anything higher than the
reformation of my own opinions； and basing them on a foundation wholly
my own。 And although my own satisfaction with my work has led me to
present here a draft of it； I do not by any means therefore remend to
every one else to make a similar attempt。 Those whom God has endowed
with a larger measure of genius will entertain； perhaps； designs still more
exalted； but for the many I am much afraid lest even the present
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undertaking be more than they can safely venture to imitate。 The single
design to strip one's self of all past beliefs is one that ought not to be taken
by every one。 The majority of men is posed of two classes； for neither
of which would this be at all a befitting resolution： in the first place； of
those who with more than a due confidence in their own powers； are
precipitate in their judgments and want the patience requisite for orderly
and circumspect thinking； whence it happens； that if men of this class once
take the liberty to doubt of their accustomed opinions； and quit the beaten
highway； they will never be able to thread the byway that would lead them
by a shorter course； and will lose themselves and continue to wander for
life； in the second place； of those who； possessed of sufficient sense or
modesty to determine that there are others who excel them in the power of
discriminating between truth and error； and by whom they may be
instructed； ought rather to content themselves with the opinions of such
than trust for more correct to their own reason。
For my own part； I should doubtless have belonged to the latter class；
had I received instruction from but one master； or had I never known the
diversities of opinion that from time immemorial have prevailed among
men of the greatest learning。 But I had bee aware； even so early as
during my college life； that no opinion； however absurd and incredible；
can be imagined； which has not been maintained by some on of the
philosophers； and afterwards in the course of my travels I remarked that
all those whose opinions are decidedly repugnant to ours are not in that
account barbarians and savages； but on the contrary that many of these
nations make an equally good； if not better； use of their reason than we do。
I took into account also the very different character which a person
brought up from infancy in France or Germany exhibits； from that which；
with the same mind originally； this individual would have possessed had
he lived always among the Chinese or with savages； and the circumstance
that in dress itself the fashion which pleased us ten years ago； and which
may again； perhaps； be received into favor before ten years have gone；
appears to us at this moment extravagant and ridiculous。 I was thus led
to infer that the ground of our opinions is far more custom and example
than any certain knowledge。 And； finally； although such be the ground of
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our opinions； I remarked that a plurality of suffrages is no guarantee of
truth where it is at all of difficult discovery； as in such cases it is much
more likely that it will be found by one than by many。 I could； however；
select from the crowd no one whose opinions seemed worthy of
preference； and thus I found myself constrained； as it were； to use my own
reason in the conduct of my life。
But like one walking alone and in the dark； I resolved to proceed so
slowly and with such circumspection； that if I did not advance far； I would
at least guard against falling。 I did not even choose to dismiss summarily
any of the opinions that had crept into my belief without having been
introduced by reason； but first of all took sufficient time carefully to
satisfy myself of the general nature of the task I was setting myself； and
ascertain the true method by which to arrive at the knowledge of whatever
lay within the pass of my powers。
Among the branches of
