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But because I have essayed to expound the chief of these discoveries
in a treatise which certain considerations prevent me from publishing； I
cannot make the results known more conveniently than by here giving a
summary of the contents of this treatise。 It was my design to prise in
it all that； before I set myself to write it； I thought I knew of the nature of
material objects。 But like the painters who； finding themselves unable to
represent equally well on a plain surface all the different faces of a solid
body； select one of the chief； on which alone they make the light fall； and
throwing the rest into the shade； allow them to appear only in so far as
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
they can be seen while looking at the principal one； so； fearing lest I
should not be able to pense in my discourse all that was in my mind； I
resolved to expound singly； though at considerable length； my opinions
regarding light； then to take the opportunity of adding something on the
sun and the fixed stars； since light almost wholly proceeds from them； on
the heavens since they transmit it； on the planets； ets； and earth； since
they reflect it； and particularly on all the bodies that are upon the earth；
since they are either colored； or transparent； or luminous； and finally on
man； since he is the spectator of these objects。 Further； to enable me to
cast this variety of subjects somewhat into the shade； and to express my
judgment regarding them with greater freedom； without being necessitated
to adopt or refute the opinions of the learned； I resolved to leave all the
people here to their disputes； and to speak only of what would happen in a
new world； if God were now to create somewhere in the imaginary spaces
matter sufficient to pose one； and were to agitate variously and
confusedly the different parts of this matter； so that there resulted a chaos
as disordered as the poets ever feigned； and after that did nothing more
than lend his ordinary concurrence to nature； and allow her to act in
accordance with the laws which he had established。 On this supposition；
I； in the first place； described this matter； and essayed to represent it in
such a manner that to my mind there can be nothing clearer and more
intelligible； except what has been recently said regarding God and the soul；
for I even expressly supposed that it possessed none of those forms or
qualities which are so debated in the schools； nor in general anything the
knowledge of which is not so natural to our minds that no one can so
much as imagine himself ignorant of it。 Besides； I have pointed out what
are the laws of nature； and； with no other principle upon which to found
my reasonings except the infinite perfection of God； I endeavored to
demonstrate all those about which there could be any room for doubt； and
to prove that they are such； that even if God had created more worlds；
there could have been none in which these laws were not observed。
Thereafter； I showed how the greatest part of the matter of this chaos must；
in accordance with these laws； dispose and arrange itself in such a way as
to present the appearance of heavens； how in the meantime some of its
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
parts must pose an earth and some planets and ets； and others a
sun and fixed stars。 And； making a digression at this stage on the subject
of light； I expounded at considerable length what the nature of that light
must be which is found in the sun and the stars； and how thence in an
instant of time it traverses the immense spaces of the heavens； and how
from the planets and ets it is reflected towards the earth。 To this I
likewise added much respecting the substance； the situation； the motions；
and all the different qualities of these heavens and stars； so that I thought I
had said enough respecting them to show that there is nothing observable
in the heavens or stars of our system that must not； or at least may not
appear precisely alike in those of the system which I described。 I came
next to speak of the earth in particular； and to show how； even though I
had expressly supposed that God had given no weight to the matter of
which it is posed； this should not prevent all its parts from tending
exactly to its center； how with water and air on its surface； the disposition
of the heavens and heavenly bodies； more especially of the moon； must
cause a flow and ebb； like in all its circumstances to that observed in our
seas； as also a certain current both of water and air from east to west； such
as is likewise observed between the tropics； how the mountains； seas；
fountains； and rivers might naturally be formed in it； and the metals
produced in the mines； and the plants grow in the fields and in general；
how all the bodies which are monly denominated mixed or posite
might be generated and； among other things in the discoveries alluded to
inasmuch as besides the stars； I knew nothing except fire which produces
light； I spared no pains to set forth all that pertains to its nature； the
manner of its production and support； and to explain how heat is
sometimes found without light； and light without heat； to show how it can
induce various colors upon different bodies and other diverse qualities；
how it reduces some to a liquid state and hardens others； how it can
consume almost all bodies； or convert them into ashes and smoke； and
finally； how from these ashes； by the mere intensity of its action； it forms
glass： for as this transmutation of ashes into glass appeared to me as
wonderful as any other in nature； I took a special pleasure in describing it。
I was not； however； disposed； from these circumstances； to conclude that
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