Philosophical Works · Chapter
Chapter L explained
Descartes discusses that common notions or truths are clearly and distinctly known, but not equally by all men due to prejudices.
What happens
Descartes discusses that common notions or truths are clearly and distinctly known, but not equally by all men due to prejudices. He argues that the faculty of knowledge is equal among men, but prejudices prevent some from readily embracing these truths, while others free from prejudice apprehend them with great clearness.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it presents the precise moment of epistemological crisi…
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Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Reason and Method
Descartes emphasizes that common notions are clearly and distinctly known, but their acceptance is hindered by prejudices, highlighting the role of method in attaining truth.
- Skepticism and Certainty
The chapter addresses how certainty of common notions is not equally accessible due to the skeptical obstacle of prejudice.
Characters to notice
- René Descartes
Author and philosopher explaining the unequal perception of clear truths due to prejudices.
Key passages
“And, indeed, with regard to these common notions, it is not to be doubted that they can be clearly and distinctly known, for otherwise they would not merit this appellation: as, in truth, some of them are not, with respect to all men, equally deserving of the name, because they are not equally admitted by all: not, however, from this reason, as I think, that the faculty of knowledge of one man extends farther than that of another, but rather because these common notions are opposed to the prejudices of some, who, on this account, are not able readily to embrace them, even although others, who are free from those prejudices, apprehend them with the greatest clearness.”
Common notions are inherently clear and distinct, but not everyone recognizes them equally because some people's prejudices block their acceptance, not because one person's intellect is superior to another's.
Descartes argues that the difference in grasping fundamental truths is due to prejudice, not cognitive ability.
