Discourse on Method

Discourse on Method

           Decartes has an interesting take on how to write a philosophical work.  His first person narrative offers a unique window into his personal life, and to his thoughts, that usually ins’t found while reading the works of other philosophers.  He writes about how man natural jumps to conclusions without considering all possible aspects of a situation, and that these conclusions can become detrimental to the welfare of both the individual and to society.  He offers a method of thinking that seems to avoid the implementation of the ego when forming beliefs, and instead advocates a natural sense of truth that all people have.  Because of this relaxed stance on forming thought, any problems I came across while reading the Discourse on Method, seem to prove his point even further - that thought and the opinions subsequent to this thought is relative, as it is based on experience, and we cannot share the same experience.  

           As he transitions into Part Four, and establishes the famous “I Think Therefore I Am,’ he begins examining where some of the falsities of our thought originate.  He seems to imply that falsities come from a warping of observation.  That somewhere along the path of extrinsic activity to perception, and then to interpretation, our mind imposes false pretenses onto the incoming signal.  If we can limit these false pretenses then we will have a better and truer image of the world around us.