more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
It is necessary, in a series of objects, to recognise which is the simplest thing, and how all the others depart from it. This rule contains the whole secret of the method.
Gist of Idea
The secret of the method is to recognise which thing in a series is the simplest
Source
René Descartes (Rules for the Direction of the Mind [1628], 06)
Book Ref
Descartes,René: 'Rules for the Direction of the Mind' [Newcomb Library 2023], p.17
A Reaction
This is an appealing thought, though deciding the criteria for 'simplest' looks tough. Are electrons, for example, simple? Is a person a simple basic thing?