DESCARTES 



God has placed in the things created) contains some 

 Truth. I recognize in myself various faculties of 

 thinking : that of conceiving (which belongs only to 

 my mind) ; that of feeling, and that of imagining, 

 which is only the application of the faculty that con- 

 ceives to the body that is present, and consequently 

 that exists. Material things, then, do exist, and the 

 impressions received by the senses and transmitted to 

 the soul, which examines and judges them, are not 

 pure illusions." Thus he reconstructed the entire 

 edifice of human cognizance, after having destroyed 

 it to its very base. 



The influence that Descartes' writings exercised 

 over Europe was widespread; it was rapid and 

 almost universal and greatest among the most cul- 

 tivated and liberal-minded. Bossuet, Fenelon, Male- 

 branche, the writers who constituted the celebrated 

 School of Port -Royal, the leading members of the 

 " Oratoire," adopted Cartesianism. Pascal borrowed 

 from it the spirit of discussion which we admire in 

 the "Provincial Letters." The Jesuits gave their 

 adherence later. The University surrendered only 

 in part and at the last extremity. 



The great sensation which Descartes caused in all 

 minds could not fail to arm against him the jealousy, 

 ignorance and superstition of many men. They de- 

 cried a man who attempted to demonstrate the exist- 



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