Descartes' Provisional Moral Maxims for Living Well
The First Maxim: Moderation and Custom
"Obey the laws and customs of my country, preserving the integrated religion in which God's grace allowed me to be instructed from my childhood, and guiding myself through the more moderate and distant views of any excess that were commonly admitted and practiced by the most sensible people with whom I would live."
Descartes tells us, to quote a popular saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," and to act with prudence. Restraining opinions about everything is one of the best ways to live fully.
Essentially, for one to live fully, Descartes tells us to be prudent. We are spectators rather than actors in a comedy; we should think and reason before we act so that we do not make poor decisions during determined bad times.
The Second Maxim: Firmness and Resolution
"To act always with the utmost firmness and resolution possible, following even the most doubtful opinions, once determined, with the same resolve as if they were clear and indisputable."
He relates this maxim to a traveler lost in an ocean who does not turn or stop for nothing, but continues in a straight line forever. By doing so, they finally reach a place where they will find themselves in a better position than in the middle of that ocean.
This teaches us to always act with the same firmness and resolution. We should not change our opinions when we act firmly, as this prevents clashes with our own attitudes or those of others.
The Third Maxim: Self-Mastery Over Fortune
"To seek, rather than to fortune, to dominate and change my own desires rather than the world order. In particular, I tended to get used to believing that only our wishes or thoughts belong to us entirely, so that everything external to us is completely out of our reach and what we can get."
This maxim indicates that it is better not to want anything too much that is not in our power to get. We should only aspire to what we can achieve and be happy with what we have made.
Personal Reflection: I somehow do not support this ideal because, for me personally, wanting something helps me to overcome obstacles. Fighting for what I want makes me feel good and happy.