Descartes' Thoughts On Knowledge

Descartes believes that the mind naturally seeks knowledge, and he is confident that its capacity to achieve is great.

"Intuition is the undoubting conception of an unclouded and attentive mind, and springs from the light of reasons alone; it is more certain than deduction itself in that it is simpler." By contrast, "deduction" is a mental process "by which we understand all necessary inference from other facts that are known with certainty," to the extent that the recommended method is being followed. Intuitions provide the ultimate grounds for logical deductions. Ultimate first principles must be known through intuition while deduction logically derives conclusions from them. "These two methods are the most certain routes to knowledge, and the mind should admit no others." He maintains that complete scientific knowledge requires that our thought processes should be continuous, adequate, and methodical.