The Selections from the Principles of Philosophy by René Descartes
page 40 of 104 (38%)
page 40 of 104 (38%)
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observe that they depend less on our understanding than on our will,
and that they have no need of the actual concourse of God, in order to their production; so that, when considered in reference to God, they are merely negations, but in reference to ourselves, privations. XXXII. That there are only two modes of thinking in us, viz., the perception of the understanding and the action of the will. For all the modes of thinking of which we are conscious may be referred to two general classes, the one of which is the perception or operation of the understanding, and the other the volition or operation of the will. Thus, to perceive by the senses (SENTIRE), to imagine, and to conceive things purely intelligible, are only different modes of perceiving (PERCIP IENDI); but to desire, to be averse from, to affirm, to deny, to doubt, are different modes of willing. XXXIII. That we never err unless when we judge of something which we do not sufficiently apprehend. When we apprehend anything we are in no danger of error, if we refrain from judging of it in any way; and even when we have formed a judgment regarding it, we would never fall into error, provided we gave our assent only to what we clearly and distinctly perceived; but the reason why we are usually deceived, is that we judge without possessing an exact knowledge of that of which we judge. XXXIV. That the will as well as the understanding is required for judging. |
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