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teaches me there is some truth contained； for by nature；
considered in general； I now understand no other thing than
either God Himself or else the order and disposition which God
has established in created things； and by my nature in
particular I understand no other thing than the plexus of
all the things which God has given me。
But there is nothing which this nature teaches me more
expressly ＇nor more sensibly＇ than that I have a body which is
adversely affected when I feel pain； which has need of food or
drink when I experience the feelings of hunger and thirst； and
so on； nor can I doubt there being some truth in all this。
Nature also teaches me by these sensations of pain；
hunger； thirst； etc。； that I am not only lodged in my body as
a pilot in a vessel； but that I am not only lodged in my body
as a pilot in a vessel； but that I am very closely united to
it； and so to speak so intermingled with it that I seem to
pose with it one whole。 For if that were not the case；
when my body is hurt； I； who am merely a thinking thing；
should not feel pain； for I should perceive this wound by the
understanding only； just as the sailor perceives by sight when
something is damaged in his vessel； and when my body has need
of drink or food； I should clearly understand the fact without
being warned of it by confused feelings of hunger and thirst。
For all these sensations of hunger； thirst； pain； etc。 are in
truth none other than certain confused modes of thought which
are produced by the union and apparent intermingling of mind
and body。
Moreover； nature teaches me that many other bodies exist
around mine； of which some are to be avoided； and others
sought after。 And certainly from the fact that I am sensible
of different sorts of colours； sounds； scents； tastes； heat；
hardness； etc。； I very easily conclude that there are in the
bodies from which all these diverse sense…perceptions proceed
certain variations which answer to them； although possibly
these are not really at all similar to them。 And also from
the fact that amongst these different sense…perceptions some
are very agreeable to me and others disagreeable； it is quite
certain that my body （or rather myself in my entirety；
inasmuch as I am formed of body and soul） may receive
different impressions agreeable and disagreeable from the
other bodies which surround it。
But there are many other things which nature seems to
have taught me； but which at the same time I have never really
received from her； but which have been brought about in my
mind by a certain habit which I have of forming inconsiderate
judgments on things； and thus it may easily happen that these
judgments contain some error。 Take； for example； the opinion
which I hold that all space in which there is nothing that
affects ＇or makes an impression on＇ my senses is void； that in
a body which is warm there is something entirely similar to
the idea of heat which is in me； that in a white or green body
there is the same whiteness or greenness that I perceive； that
in a bitter or sweet body there is the same taste； and so on
in other instances； that the stars； the towers； and all other
distant bodies are of the same figure and size as they appear
from far off to our eyes； etc。 But in order that in this
there should be nothing which I do not conceive distinctly； I
should define exactly what I really understand when I say that
I am taught somewhat by nature。 For here I take nature in a
more limited signification than when I term it the sum of all
the things given me by God； since in this sum many things are
prehended which only pertain to mind （and to these I do not
refer in speaking of nature） such as the notion which I have
of the fact that what has once been done cannot ever be undone
and an infinitude of such things which I know by the light of
nature ＇without the help of the body＇； and seeing that it
prehends many other matters besides which only pertain to
body； and are no longer here contained under the name of
nature； such as the quality of weight which it possesses and
the like； with which I also do not deal； for in talking of
nature I only treat of those things given by God to me as a
being posed of mind and body。 But the nature here
described truly teaches me to flee from things which cause the
sensation of pain； and seek after the things which municate
to me the sentiment of pleasure and so forth； but I do not see
that beyond this it teaches me that from those diverse sense…
perceptions we should ever form any conclusion regarding
things outside of us； without having ＇carefully and maturely＇
mentally examined them beforehand。 For it seems to me that it
is mind alone； and not mind and body in conjunction； that is
requisite to a knowledge of the truth in regard to such
things。 Thus； although a star makes no larger an impression
on my eye than the flame of a little candle there is yet in me
no real or positive propensity impelling me to believe that it
is not greater than that flame； but I have judged it to be so
from my earliest years； without any rational foundation。 And
although in approaching fire I feel heat； and in approaching
it a little too near I even feel pain； there is at the same
time no reason in this which could persuade me that there is
in the fire something resembling this heat any more than there
is in it something resembling the pain； all that I have any
reason to believe from this is； that there is something in it；
whatever it may be； which excites in me these sensations of
heat or of pain。 So also； although there are spaces in which
I find nothing which excites my senses； I must not from that
conclude that these spaces contain no body； for I see in this；
as in other similar things； that I have been in the habit of
perverting the order of nature； because these perceptions of
sense having bee placed within me by nature merely for the
purpose of signifying to my mind what things are beneficial or
hurtful to the posite whole of which it forms a part； and
being up to that point sufficiently clear and distinct； I yet
avail myself of them as though they were absolute rules by
w