I felt that in both readings that were assigned there was a unified theme,  which is the search for truths. In the Rene Descartes article he mentions that, even with all of the disciplines and knowledge he attained in school there were still questions that no text book or reading was going to answer, more of a internal understanding of what one perceives as truth.  In the John Locke piece he mentions that man is not permitted to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth and both points are similar in the idea that one had to believe in a ideology, a practice or a thought for it to be considered truth and even then it varies on ones experience in coming to that conclusion of that truth.  I liked that Rene journeys he had a set of rules that made him less objective, judgmental to others thoughts and beliefs , I felt that his method did allow him to look past his own views and not limit himself to his own view to learn more.
I like how in both articles there is a questioning of the conventional thought and that limits do more harm then good, I personally believe that one should always challenge them selves and there way of thinking for personal growth.