Full Idea
The human soul possesses something divine in which are deposited the first seeds of useful knowledge, which, in spite of the negligence and embarrassment of poorly done studies, bear spontaneous fruit.
Gist of Idea
Our souls possess divine seeds of knowledge, which can bear spontaneous fruit
Source
René Descartes (Rules for the Direction of the Mind [1628], 04)
Book Reference
Descartes,René: 'Rules for the Direction of the Mind' [Newcomb Library 2023], p.13
A Reaction
This makes clear the religious underpinning which is required for his commitment to such useful innate ideas (such as basic geometry)