Finally, since for the use of speech we attach all our conceptions to words by which to express them, and commit to memory our thoughts in connection with these terms, and as we afterwards find it more easy to recall the words than the things signified by them, we can scarcely conceive anything with such distinctness as to separate entirely what we conceive from the words that were selected to express it. On this account the majority attend to words rather than to things; and thus very frequently assent to terms without attaching to them any meaning, either because they think they once understood them, or imagine they received them from others by whom they were correctly understood. This, however, is not the place to treat of this matter in detail, seeing the nature of the human body has not yet been expounded, nor the existence even of body established; enough, nevertheless, appears to have been said to enable one to distinguish such of our conceptions as are clear and distinct from those that are obscure and confused.
Philosophical Works
Chapter List-
Philosophical Works
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Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and of Seeking Truth in the Sciences
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Prefatory Note by the Author
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Discourse on the Method
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PartI
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PartII
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PartIII
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PartIV
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PartV
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PartVI
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Meditations on the First Philosophy
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Chapter_13
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Preface to the Reader
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Synopsis of the Six Following Meditations
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Meditations on the First Philosophy
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MeditationI
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MeditationII
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MeditationIII
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MeditationIV
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MeditationV
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MeditationVI
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Selections from thePrinciples of Philosophy
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Letter of the Author to the French Translator of thePrinciples of PhilosophyServing for a Preface
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Chapter_25
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Selections from thePrinciples of Philosophy
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PartI
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Chapter_28
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Chapter_29
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Chapter_30
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Chapter_31
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Chapter_32
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Chapter_33
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Chapter_34
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Chapter_35
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Chapter_36
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Chapter_37
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Chapter_38
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Chapter_39
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Chapter_40
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Chapter_41
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Chapter_42
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Chapter_43
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Chapter_44
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Chapter_45
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Chapter_46
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Chapter_47
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Chapter_48
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Chapter_49
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Chapter_50
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Chapter_51
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Chapter_52
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Chapter_53
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Chapter_54
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Chapter_55
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Chapter_56
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Chapter_57
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Chapter_58
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Chapter_59
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Chapter_60
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Chapter_61
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Chapter_62
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Chapter_63
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Chapter_64
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Chapter_65
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Chapter_66
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Chapter_67
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Chapter_68
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Chapter_69
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Chapter_70
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Chapter_71
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Chapter_72
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Chapter_73
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Chapter_74
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Chapter_75
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Chapter_76
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Chapter_77
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Chapter_78
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Chapter_79
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Chapter_80
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Chapter_81
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Chapter_82
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Chapter_83
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Chapter_84
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Chapter_85
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Chapter_86
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Chapter_87
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Chapter_88
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Chapter_89
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Chapter_90
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Chapter_91
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Chapter_92
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Chapter_93
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Chapter_94
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Chapter_95
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Chapter_96
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Chapter_97
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Chapter_98
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Chapter_99
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Chapter_100
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Chapter_101
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Chapter_102
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Chapter_103
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PartII
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Chapter_105
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Chapter_106
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Chapter_107
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Chapter_108
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Chapter_109
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Chapter_110
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Chapter_111
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Chapter_112
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Chapter_113
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Chapter_114
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Chapter_115
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Chapter_116
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Chapter_117
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Chapter_118
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Chapter_119
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Chapter_120
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Chapter_121
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Chapter_122
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Chapter_123
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Chapter_124
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Chapter_125
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Chapter_126
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Chapter_127
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Chapter_128
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Chapter_129
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PartIII
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Chapter_131
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Chapter_132
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Chapter_133
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PartIV
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Chapter_135
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Chapter_136
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Chapter_137
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Chapter_138
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Chapter_139
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Chapter_140
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Chapter_141
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Chapter_142
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Chapter_143
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Chapter_144
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Chapter_145
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Chapter_146
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Chapter_147
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Chapter_148
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Chapter_149
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Chapter_150
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Chapter_151
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Chapter_152
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Chapter_153
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Chapter_154
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Chapter_155
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Endnotes