"... buildings undertaken and completed by a single architect are usually more attractive and better ordered than those which many architects have tried to patch up by using old walls that had been built for other purposes." pg 7, paragraph 12
-The buildings represent the conflict in society when there is no unity, a single creative mind can accomplish more than individuals trying to repair the old rather than creating something new.
"I would succeed in conducting my life much better than if I were to build only upon old foundations and if I were to rely on the principles of which I had allowed myself to be persuaded in my youth, without ever having examined whether they were true." pg 8, paragraph 14
-Descartes suggests building your own foundations rather than devoting yourself to the concepts you're taught. By generating your own understanding of these ideas and seeking the truth rather than accepting what you're told, you stand to improve your life. By building your morals and character on "unstable foundations" it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of your success. But, it is possible to rebuild foundations through doubt, and eventual truth.
Descartes describes how there are two types of people that are wholly unsuited for reasoning such as his: There are people who "believing themselves more capable than they are, are unable to avoid being hasty in their judgments or to have enough patience to conduct all their thoughts in an orderly manner." pg 9, paragraph 15
There are also "those who have enough reason or modesty to judge that they are less capable of distinguishing the true from the false than certain others by whom they can be instructed; they should content themselves more with following the opinions of these than with looking for better ones themselves." pg 9, paragraph 15
-This portion of the text was particularly striking because regardless of the length of time that has passed since this piece was written, these types of people still exist (and dominate) the world. People who think they are capable of anything think that they are infallible, and therefore, all of their beliefs and ideas must in turn be the truth. Because they are so blinded by their own self centered truth, they rarely question the things they have been taught because they are ultimately convinced anything they know must be correct.
-On the other side of the spectrum, there are people that refuse to question what they've been taught because they lack the ability to have confidence in their own conclusions. So therefore, these people are forever content to simply take what they have been told as the absolute truth without any hint of doubt.
Although I have more information regarding the remainder of Part II, I will save the additional notes and ideas I have for another post at a later date.
Thanks!!!!
GO GIANTS!!!!!
3 comments:
haha, this is so true. i don't know if i can agree with Descartes idea that the world can be narrowed down to these two types of people alone, but there are definitely the people that believe everything they were taught and everything they know is true and correct and then there are the people that don't believe anything anyone says at all. I think thats why Descartes dedicates so much time into these ideas and rules he's set up for himself because he wants to avoid being put into one of these two categories
I really agree with rosie here. There is no possible way there are only two types of people in the world. But alot of people are "cocky" or just dont give a dam about what anyone else has to say. While others listen and just dont agree.
I don't think D meant that those were the only two type of people in the world, but more that most people would likely fall into those categories to some extent, although I think as he describes them they are a bit extreme. I think that the truth of this lies within the person, because even as we see people, they are not their true selves.
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