this dictum refers about how poeple exist in the world.
2006-07-20 18:01:48 · 27 answers · asked by CN 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
What Descartes was referring to was that we can doubt everything we know about the world because our perceptions are linked to our senses, which we know can often be wrong.
If all we know about the world has come through our less than perfect senses, we must then doubt everything we know about the world because we have learned it through our sensory perceptions.
Therefore, the only thing we cannot doubt is that we exist, and we know we exist because "we" are the ones thinking and pondering our existence. Since we know for sure that our thinking selves exist because we didn't use our senses to perceive ourselves thinking, we can then claim, "I think, therefore I exist." or as it has become known,
"I think therefore I am"
Descartes built the rest of his theories off of this premise.
I think Descartes makes an important observation, but I am not generally a skeptic myself.
2006-07-20 18:27:09 · answer #1 · answered by Chris 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To think about it is to provide evidence in favour of this dictum that I exist. Anyway, this dictum of philosopher Descartes is obviously true. Acarya Samkara of India pronounced this long back when he said: yah eva hi nirakarta yadeva tasya svarupam.
2006-07-21 01:11:33 · answer #2 · answered by das.ganesh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't just given.
It's supposed to be the foundation for everything-- an absolute, undeniable truth, after the harshest line of skeptical reasoning.
But it isn't. I CAN doubt that I'm truly doubting. All that Descartes is entitled to is "existence is such"-- analytically he cannot know what a thought is or this very complicated thing called an "I".
2006-07-21 01:20:50 · answer #3 · answered by -.- 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hence U R, in a dictum sort of way.
2006-07-21 01:14:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it couldn't be said better. We as humans have conscious thought, and are aware of our own thought. Therefore, we exist. It's the realization of being real, and in a place that is real.
2006-07-21 01:06:04 · answer #5 · answered by socomgoat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A truer statement could not have been uttered....we are absolutely what we think. Our self concepts, outlooks, and attitudes shape our existance. It's a major reason why positive thinking and healthy self-esteem are so important in life!
2006-07-21 01:09:30 · answer #6 · answered by grlinwhite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer this look into if artificial intelligence is possible... the statement above is angled towards only living 'intentional' things...
Check out 'John.R.Searle's' Chinese Box theory...
It'll have you questioning this for years!
Alternatively... If we are not existing, something must be to create this illusion...
2006-07-21 01:40:53 · answer #7 · answered by carlos 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually Descartes had had too much wine to drink. What he really said was: " I am so f-----g drunk that I THINK THEREFORE I AM---going to throw up."
And he did.
And like everything else in life it was taken out of context--
and we remember this great man
for the words and wine that came out of his mouth.
God Bless you Rene!
2006-07-21 01:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is meant as a definition for consciousness. The idea that something has independent thought. Personally I agree!!!
2006-07-21 03:42:35 · answer #9 · answered by Robbie B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'll believe that i am if i think
the proof of existence is being able to do something
descartes also treated the cientific method (the proof of a theory was done through experimentation)
2006-07-21 01:19:48 · answer #10 · answered by OrtegaFollower 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋