xiv.] ON DESCARTES &quot;DISCOURSE.&quot; 281 



to satisfy their mental hunger with the east wind of authority ; 

 and to those of us moderns who are in this position, it is one of 

 Descartes great claims to our reverence, as a spiritual ancestor, 

 that, at three-and-twenty, he saw clearly that this was his duty, 

 and acted up to his conviction. At two-and-thirty, in fact, 

 finding all other occupations incompatible with the search after 

 the knowledge which leads to action, and being possessed of a 

 modest competence, he withdrew into Holland ; where he spent 

 nine years in learning and thinking, in such retirement that 

 only one or two trusted friends knew of his whereabouts. 



In 1637 the firstfruits of these long meditations were given to 

 the world in the famous &quot;Discourse touching the Method of 

 using Reason rightly and of seeking scientific Truth,&quot; which, at 

 once an autobiography and a philosophy, clothes the deepest 

 thought in language of exquisite harmony, simplicity, and 

 clearness. 



The central propositions of the whole &quot;Discourse&quot; are these. 

 There is a path that leads to truth so surely, that any one who 

 will follow it must needs reach the goal, whether his capacity be 

 great or small. And there is one guiding rule by which a man 

 may always find this path, and keep himself from straying when 

 he has found it. This golden rule is give unqualified assent 

 to no propositions but those the truth of which is so clear and 

 distinct that they cannot be doubted. 



The enunciation of this great first commandment of science 

 consecrated Doubt. It removed Doubt from the seat of penance 

 among the grievous sins to which it had long been condemned, 

 and enthroned it in that high place among the primary duties, 

 which is assigned to it by the scientific conscience of these latter 

 days. Descartes was the first among the moderns to obey this 

 commandment deliberately ; and, as a matter of religious duty, 

 to strip off all his beliefs and reduce himself to a state of 

 intellectual nakedness, until such time as he could satisfy 

 himself which were fit to be worn. He thought a bare skin 

 healthier than the most respectable and well-cut clothing of 

 what might, possibly, be mere shoddy. 



