方法序説　　序

IF this Discourse appear too long to be read at once, it may be divided into six parts:
この序説〔話〕が長すぎて一気に読みとおせないようなら，これを六部にわけることができる。
and, in the first, will be found various considerations touching the Sciences;
つまり，第一部では学問にかんするさまざまな考察，
in the second, the principal rules of the Method which the Author has discovered;
第二部ではわたしが探求した方法の主たる規則が見いだされる。
in the third, certain of the rules of Morals which he has deduced from this Method;
第三部ではわたしがこの方法からひきだした道徳上の規則のいくつか，
in the fourth, the reasonings by which he establishes the existence of God and of the Human Soul,
第四部では神の存在と人間の魂の存在を証明する論拠，
which are the foundations of his Metaphysic;
つまり著者の形而上学の基礎，
in the fifth, the order of the Physical questions which he has investigated,
第五部ではわたしが探求した自然学の諸問題の秩序，
and, in particular, the explication of the motion of the heart and of some other difficulties pertaining to Medicine,
とくに心臓の運動や医学に属する他のいくつかの難問の解明と，
as also the difference between the soul of man and that of the brutes;
われわれの魂と動物の魂との差異，
and, in the last, what the Author believes to be required in order to greater advancement in the investigation of Nature than has yet been made,
そして最終部〔第六部〕では，わたしが自然の探究においてさらに先に進むために何が必要だと考えるか，
with the reasons that have induced him to write.
またどんな理由でわたしが本書を執筆するにいたったか，見ることができる。
　この序説〔話〕が長すぎて一気に読みとおせないようなら，これを六部にわけることができる。つまり，第一部では学問にかんするさまざまな考察，第二部ではわたしが探求した方法の主たる規則が見いだされる。第三部ではわたしがこの方法からひきだした道徳上の規則のいくつか，第四部では神の存在と人間の魂の存在を証明する論拠，つまり著者の形而上学の基礎，第五部ではわたしが探求した自然学の諸問題の秩序，とくに心臓の運動や医学に属する他のいくつかの難問の解明と，われわれの魂と動物の魂との差異，そして最終部〔第六部〕では，わたしが自然の探究においてさらに先に進むために何が必要だと考えるか，またどんな理由でわたしが本書を執筆するにいたったか，見ることができる。
IF this Discourse appear too long to be read at once, it may be divided into six parts: and, in the first, will be found various considerations touching the Sciences; in the second, the principal rules of the Method which the Author has discovered; in the third, certain of the rules of Morals which he has deduced from this Method; in the fourth, the reasonings by which he establishes the existence of God and of the Human Soul, which are the foundations of his Metaphysic; in the fifth, the order of the Physical questions which he has investigated, and, in particular, the explication of the motion of the heart and of some other difficulties pertaining to Medicine, as also the difference between the soul of man and that of the brutes; and, in the last, what the Author believes to be required in order to greater advancement in the investigation of Nature than has yet been made, with the reasons that have induced him to write.