Editing Discourse on the Method (section)

=== Part II: Principal rules of the Method ===

Descartes was in Germany, attracted thither by the [[Thirty Years' War|wars]] in that country, and describes his intent by a "building metaphor" (see also: [[Neurath's boat]]). He observes that buildings, cities or nations that have been planned by a single hand are more elegant and commodious than those that have grown organically. He resolves not to build on old foundations, nor to lean upon principles which he had taken on faith in his youth. Descartes seeks to ascertain the true method by which to arrive at the knowledge of whatever lies within the compass of his powers. He presents four precepts:<ref>{{cite book|last=Descartes|first=René|title=A Discourse on Method: Meditations and Principles|date=2004|publisher=Orion Publishing Group|isbn=9780460874113|location=London|page=15|translator-last=Veitch|translator-first=John|orig-year=1637}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgment than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of [[Cartesian doubt|doubt]].

The second, to [[Divide-and-conquer algorithm|divide]] each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible, and as might be necessary for its adequate solution.

The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend by little and little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex; assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence.

And the last, in every case to make enumerations so complete, and reviews so general, that I might be assured that nothing was omitted.|author=|title=|source=}}