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might； perhaps； have made had I been engaged in the perusal of books
merely； or in holding converse with men of letters。
These nine years passed away； however； before I had e to any
determinate judgment respecting the difficulties which form matter of
dispute among the learned； or had menced to seek the principles of
any philosophy more certain than the vulgar。 And the examples of many
men of the highest genius； who had； in former times； engaged in this
inquiry； but； as appeared to me； without success； led me to imagine it to be
a work of so much difficulty； that I would not perhaps have ventured on it
so soon had I not heard it currently rumored that I had already pleted
the inquiry。 I know not what were the grounds of this opinion； and； if my
conversation contributed in any measure to its rise； this must have
happened rather from my having confessed my Ignorance with greater
freedom than those are accustomed to do who have studied a little； and
expounded perhaps； the reasons that led me to doubt of many of those
things that by others are esteemed certain； than from my having boasted of
any system of philosophy。 But； as I am of a disposition that makes me
unwilling to be esteemed different from what I really am； I thought it
necessary to endeavor by all means to render myself worthy of the
reputation accorded to me； and it is now exactly eight years since this
desire constrained me to remove from all those places where interruption
from any of my acquaintances was possible； and betake myself to this
country； in which the long duration of the war has led to the establishment
of such discipline； that the armies maintained seem to be of use only in
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
enabling the inhabitants to enjoy more securely the blessings of peace and
where； in the midst of a great crowd actively engaged in business； and
more careful of their own affairs than curious about those of others； I have
been enabled to live without being deprived of any of the conveniences to
be had in the most populous cities； and yet as solitary and as retired as in
the midst of the most remote deserts。
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
PART IV
I am in doubt as to the propriety of making my first meditations in the
place above mentioned matter of discourse； for these are so metaphysical；
and so unmon； as not； perhaps； to be acceptable to every one。 And
yet； that it may be determined whether the foundations that I have laid are
sufficiently secure； I find myself in a measure constrained to advert to
them。 I had long before remarked that； in relation to practice； it is
sometimes necessary to adopt； as if above doubt； opinions which we
discern to be highly uncertain； as has been already said； but as I then
desired to give my attention solely to the search after truth； I thought that a
procedure exactly the opposite was called for； and that I ought to reject as
absolutely false all opinions in regard to which I could suppose the least
ground for doubt； in order to ascertain whether after that there remained
aught in my belief that was wholly indubitable。 Accordingly； seeing that
our senses sometimes deceive us； I was willing to suppose that there
existed nothing really such as they presented to us； and because some men
err in reasoning； and fall into paralogisms； even on the simplest matters of
geometry； I； convinced that I was as open to error as any other； rejected as
false all the reasonings I had hitherto taken for demonstrations； and finally；
when I considered that the very same thoughts （presentations） which we
experience when awake may also be experienced when we are asleep；
while there is at that time not one of them true； I supposed that all the
objects （presentations） that had ever entered into my mind when awake；
had in them no more truth than the illusions of my dreams。 But
immediately upon this I observed that； whilst I thus wished to think that all
was false； it was absolutely necessary that I； who thus thought； should be
somewhat； and as I observed that this truth； I think； therefore I am
（COGITO ERGO SUM）； was so certain and of such evidence that no
ground of doubt； however extravagant； could be alleged by the sceptics
capable of shaking it； I concluded that I might； without scruple； accept it
as the first principle of the philosophy of which I was in search
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
In the next place； I attentively examined what I was and as I observed
that I could suppose that I had no body； and that there was no world nor
any place in which I might be； but that I could not therefore suppose that I
was not； and that； on the contrary； from the very circumstance that I