What do you 'think'? (haha)
2006-08-01 09:31:46 · 8 answers · asked by Joy_Brigade 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Rene Descartes walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Will you have a beer?"
Descartes says, "I think not."
And POOF! he disappears!
- One of my favorite jokes.
2006-08-01 10:12:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you are actually referring to the philosophical statement made by Descartes "Je pense, donc je suis" which when translated into Latin is "Cogito Ergo Sum" then literally translated what he meant by that was "I think therefore, I exist."
Some people have tried to disprove this statement by saying that "I think, therefore I exist," can be reversed so as to mean "I do not think, therefore I do not exist." They might argue that a rock does not think, but it still exists, which would if it was a valid statement disprove Descartes' argument.
However, this is the common logical fallacy of denying the antecedent. The correct corollary by modus tollens is "I do not exist, therefore I do not think." (Yes, you would have to know a certain level of Logical Philosophy to know this)
What Descartes was trying to get across with this statement is known as the "Instantiation Principle" which basically means if something has substance or property to it, then it must exist.
A common and often used example to illustrate this has to do with an Apple. An Apple is Red, therefore the Apple must exist. The instantiation principle implies that it would be pointless to say that the apple is red, but that it does not exist, since in order for the apple to be red, it must exist.
2006-08-01 18:08:07 · answer #2 · answered by Agent Starling 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would seem you missed the point of Descartes discovery. With the discovery of Cogito, ergo sum, Descartes believed he had found the one indisputable foundation upon which to build knowledge. You're changing the content of the discovery from indubitable to doubtful. Wouldn't I think implies that you are doubting your thinking, but that only puts off the discovery. Because you are doubting that you think, you have established the fact that you exist. It is your version is awkward you used the wrong punctuation; Wouldn't I think? Therefore(,) I think I am.
2006-08-01 16:49:11 · answer #3 · answered by tigranvp2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The original quote by Des Cartes was "I doubt, therefore I am".
He was trying to prove the existence of God by using just plain logic.
He first started by denying the existence of God, the world, the room around him, etc, etc.
He finally focused in on himself and said that he doubted his own existence.
That's where he began to build back the mental image of the universe around him, because, as he realized, if he doubted his own existence, then who was doing the doubting? Thus, he concluded, "I doubt, therefore I am" (i.e., I exist) (which eventually got lost in the translation to "I think, therefore I am"), and from there, he began to think through the postulates of what he believed, and philosophize on the existence of everything else.
2006-08-01 16:39:07 · answer #4 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think that. therefore I am, but what is am?
2006-08-01 16:37:30 · answer #5 · answered by kimber g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't THINK, therefore I'm NOT !
2006-08-01 16:42:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love that you are so right.
2006-08-01 16:37:20 · answer #7 · answered by tensnut90_99 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbit season!
Duck season!
Rabbit season!
Duck season!
Rabbit season!
Duck season!
Rabbit season!
Duck season!
Ha ha ha ha ha.
2006-08-01 17:18:43 · answer #8 · answered by : ) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋