The Irrational Laws of Civility

On 30 September 1645, Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia wrote to Ren&eacute; Descartes a letter including To benefit from the particular truths you mention, we would need an exact knowledge of all these passions and preconceptions, of which most people are unaware. When we observe the customs and values of the country we are in, we sometimes discover extremely irrational ones, which we have to conform…