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The Western Canon Mailing List
Moderator: Paul John Barnette Jr.
Activation Date: March 8, 1997
Current Date:  June 5, 1997
Current Membership: 61
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Some comments on Descartes' Discourse on the Method.

The is a substantial about of overlap in the Discourse
and the Meditations. They both cover the the same ground
to a certain extent, but they are also very different in
style and tone. The Discourse was meant by Descartes to be
read by the educated public, whereas the Meditations were
composed for philosophers and theologians. This difference
makes the Meditations much more detailed in its philosophic
analysis , but what the Discourse losses in the details is
more than made up for by Descartes's more personable writing
style. It is in the Discourse that we get an idea of Descartes
as a man rather than just as a philosopher. To me, when I am
reading the Discourse, it is almost as though Descartes is
putting his hand on my shoulder and taking me into his confidence.

Book I

(1) "..when I cast a philosophical eye upon the various activities
and undertakings of mankind, there are almost none which I do not
consider cain and useless."

This rather harsh sentiment is actually rather common among 
speculative philosophers. They are usually not men of action nor
men of the world by temperament, otherwise they would enter an
occupation other than philosophy!

(2) "..reading good books is like having a conversation with the
most distinguished men of past ages - indeed, a rehearsed
conversation in which these authors reveal to us only the best of
their thoughts.."

I could not have said it any better myself!

(3) "..those who regulate their conduct by examples drawn from
these works are liable to fall into the excesses of the knight-
errant in our tales of chivalry; and conceive plans beyond their
powers."

I realize that it is very likely not the case, but part of me
really whishes that Descartes was referring to Cervantes' Don
Quixote here.

(4) "For it seemed to me that much more truth could be found in
the reasonings which a man makes concerning matters that concern
him than in those which some scholar makes in his study about
speculative matters. For the consequences of the former will soon
punish the man if he judges wrongly, whereas the later have no
practical consequences and no importance to the scholar except
that perhaps the further they are from common sense the more pride
he will take in them, since he will have to use so much skill and
ingenuity in trying to render them plausible."

I actually laughed out loud at this one. Descartes is here taking
a shot at the philosophers of his day, which for the most part were
scholastic philosophers who were still under the influence of medieval
thought. However, I find it curious, yet not surprising, that
Descartes does not see himself being condemned by his own statement.
I find the passage above to be a very clear and correct description
of the scholar, no matter what the subject matter or time period my be.
I realize that it is not very flattering, but the truth is not always
kind to everyone.

I will continue with Book II in a few days.

Please post any comments you may have!!

Paul John Barnette Jr. 


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