IV. The end of philosophical procedure is, as we have seen, True Knowledge, or Truth.
Truth refers exclusively to judgments. A judgment is true when what we include within certain limits is really therein included, and when what we exclude is really therefrom excluded. The end of philosophical method in general is, therefore, the determination of real inclusions and exclusions.
We must distinguish, however, between Method that is instituted merely for the purposes of Science, and that instituted for the ends of Philosophy Proper.
The end of Scientific Method in general is, the determination of individual truths in this and that matter, the elaboration of these into classes, and the binding them up into system.
The end of the Method of Philosophy Proper, as this is laid down by Descartes, is twofold; for it is to find by reflection, the Ultimate Ground of the Truth of the judgments of Science; and likewise of our Assurance of the truth of these judgments.
Descartes thus seeks to establish and vindicate the reality of knowledge; and that by connecting, in the way of consequence, the whole series of subordinate truths, that is, the whole truths of Science with the ultimate truths, or truth, if such exist: and likewise by discovering the ground of our assurance of individual truths through the discovery of the ground of our certainty in the highest truth.
