Is thinking seperable from sensory experience?

Question

This is my argument against Descartes who came up with the saying 'Cogito Ergo Sum' (I think, therefore i am).

He believes that thinking is the only proof of existence since our senses have the power to deceive us. And he believed that there must be an evil genius that gives us our sensory experiences (delusions)...

However, i don't know a single human being on this earth that can think without having some type of sensory experience. Therefore, if sensory experiences are to be disqualified as nothing more than a delusion, our thoughts must be disqualified as well since they are the results of the senses.
We wouldn't think if we didn't have a reason.

What do you think?

Answer 1

David Hume offered what philosophers term the "bundle theory" of consciousness. Hume argued that Descartes was incorrect, as all thought must arise from sensory experience.

Imagine someone born without any sensory input at all (of any kind whatsoever). Would that person be capable of thought? Hume argued, no.

Later, Immanuel Kant argued as well that sensory input governs thought. Yes, we can divorce thought from experience, he argued, but we can only think within the boundaries that experience allows. For example, would the sky really be blue if humans were all colorblind? Could we even conceptualize "Blueness?" Kant argued, no. And I agree with Kant.

Imagine sensory experience as the ground on which you stand. Imagine thought as you game you play on that ground. In the absense of a place to play the game is impossible. But if the ground is present, the number of games one can play is infinite. This is the relationship between experince and thought. First the ground, and then the game. First the experience, and then the thought.

Superior question.

Answer 2

I am a lay person. Haven't ever read Descartes theories etc. My answer is based on my own thoughts. Hence please pardon me if it does not make any structured sense.

Thinking often arises as a sequel to a sensory experience. That is mainly to analyze and compare the experience. In that thinking is an integral part of the sensory experience and as much a delusion as the experience itself is.

Thinking is not always a sequel to a sensory experience. While we are asleep, we dream due to our thoughts in the sub-conscious. These thoughts are arising even when our senses have been put to sleep. Also let us examine the case of absent-minded people. Their thoughts are independent of the immediate experience their senses are providing.
We solve mathematical problems through thinking. Obviously this thinking is quite unconnected with any sensory experience of the time or even past.

My view therefore is that we have the capability to do abstract thinking, which precisely involves thinking without the crutches of senses.

Answer 3

Your thinking may be related to sensory experience (you think about, remember, revisit in your mind the things that you have seen, felt, heard, touched, tasted etc) but even if you lost all of your senses, you would still be able to think. Of course, what would you think, if not some reference to the sensory world?! Every thought is based on something we've encountered in the world, something that we have taken in through our senses. Our senses can be deceiving, but so can our thoughts.

I think that both thought & feeling are the proofs that we exist. One could as easily say, I feel, therefore I am.

Answer 4

It is a separate entity.
A normal person thinks without experiencing sensory delusions. But, a person who is mentally derange may think and feel otherwise opposite of the sensory experience he is into.

Answer 5

A lot of people in the 60s tried sensory deprevation...isolation tanks...in an attempt to overcome any sensory input. Very interesting reports.

Answer 6

You misunderstood what Descartes was saying. The "demon" argument was used only to show that all sensory experiences are inherently unreliable, because it cannot be refuted.

The full quote of Descartes famous "cogito" argument is "Dubito ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum". I doubt therefore I think, therefore I am. The only thing which cannot be doubted is the very act of doubting, and that is the foundation of all of Descartes' philosophy.

Answer 7

I think you are asking why is it that actual experience never lives up to apriori expectations? If that is correct....then It has to do with empowerment. The mind gives power to experience, in order to trigger the volition to proceed in the direction of intentions because the physiological goal of reward through gratification tries to fulfill an unmet need in the area of ideas, thoughts and emotions. For want of better language, I will use flesh and spirit as terms identifying the duality of being here. The spirit side of an agent may seek fulfillment and failing to find it in the spirit domain will express what it knows of the flesh's gratification in order, perhaps through osmosis, to experience that fulfillment as its own. In order to get the volition to act by proxy for the ends desired the spirit must elevate the benefit beyond what it actually is in experience because what gratifies the mental or spiritual domain of agency is higher than what the fleshly domain is capable. Therefore the flesh will never live up to the expectations of the minds ideal.

Answer 8

Even 'thinking' about this answer requires sensory perception , to read the question first !

Answer 9

The flaw in your argument is is that you are assuming that he said ALL sensory experiences are delusions.