Descartes argues that humans do not need to speak nor hear to actually think but they need to think to be actually human. This is interpreted through his statement In Speech Sound Rye, and Obsidian are both sick. Rye cannot read but she can speak and Obsidian can read but not speak. They both are missing a “human” characteristic but according to Descartes they don’t need those characteristics to be human.
Rye thinks about being with Obsidian or someone in general while Obsidian thinks about saving what is left of the world. They both have a thought process. The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgement than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.
The second, to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible, and as might be necessary for its adequate solution. The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend by little and little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex; assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence.
And the last, in every case to make enumerations so complete, and reviews so general, that I might be assured that nothing was omitted. But the chief ground of my satisfaction with thus method, was the assurance I had of thereby exercising my reason in all matters, if not with absolute perfection, at least with the greatest attainable by me: besides, I was conscious that by its use my mind was becoming gradually habituated to clearer and more distinct conceptions of its objects; and I hoped also, from ot having restricted this method to any particular matter, to apply it to the difficulties of the other sciences, with not less success than to those of algebra.
I should not, however, on this account have ventured at once on the examination of all the difficulties of the sciences which presented themselves to me, for this would have been contrary to the order prescribed in the method, but observing that the knowledge of such is dependent on principles borrowed from philosophy, in which I found nothing certain, I thought it necessary first of all to endeavor to establish its principles.
And because I observed, besides, that an inquiry of this kind was of all others of the greatest moment, and one in which precipitancy and anticipation in judgment were most to be dreaded, I thought that I ought not to approach it till I had reached a more mature age (being at that time but twenty-three), and had first of all employed much of my time in preparation for the work, as well by eradicating from my mind all the erroneous opinions I had up to that moment accepted, as by amassing variety of experience to afford materials for my reasonings, and by continually exercising myself in my chosen method with a view to increased skill in its application.
In Descartes “I think therefore I exist”, Descartes speaks about the breakdown of a problem. He states, “to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible, and as might be necessary for its adequate solution”. This means that the problem should not be taken all at once but rather be broken down into steps. He then states “to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend by little and little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex; assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence. Descartes means that after breaking the problem down into parts, take the parts and put them in difficulty order, from simple to complex. This process will allow humans to think before they act.
Octavia Butler’s Speech Sounds affirms Descartes method. Speech Sound says their needs to be a step-by-step process to allow humans to think before they act. Speech Sound demonstrates the validity of Descartes method first by showing the destructive fight on the bus. This fight broke out because the people on the bus didn’t use methods to prevent the miscommunication. It is also shown through Ryes step by step process in her relationship with Obsidian and her step-by-step process of her decision to get of the bus. To not accept anything for what is seems
To avoid rashness or sudden action To avoid a preconceived opinion not based on reason or personal experience To come to an agreement with oneself that doesn’t involve more information that was already present, allowing to have a clear thought which would allow no doubt to cross the mind about the decision that would be made The first is shown through the thought process Rye has on the bus as the animosity builds. “As the two young men on the bus were in some type of disagreement, Rye sat a few feet behind the two and across from the back door. ’’ (Speech Sounds 89). This would have allowed her in the matter of seconds to get off the bus, avoiding problems.
