René Descartes famous saying was
"I think, therfore I am"
What did he mean by this?
2007-01-16 10:17:15 · 8 answers · asked by xombiecats 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
He thought that the only real thing was thought- everything else could be destroyed through earthly means. Thought and 'ideas' were the only undestructable things. Since he could think, he could determine that he was real. Therefore, he 'was.'
2007-01-16 10:24:52 · answer #1 · answered by JessC 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy, he employs hyperbolic doubt to re-establish his existence. Through hyperbolic doubt, he disbands his belief in the existence of everything that has questionable existence. His purpose is to rebuild the true things in the world. With everything doubted and falsifed, anything recognized as true will completely be true and there can be no doubt about its validity. Through his method, he derives his first major saying "dubito sum" meaning "I doubt, I am". He recognizes that to be able to doubt, he must exist--within the doubting, there is existence, and vice versa. And as doubting is a form of thinking, "cogito sum" was born.
2007-01-16 18:25:24 · answer #2 · answered by mistresscris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know exactly what he meant, but I can tell you what he proved by saying this. He proved he was a long-winded blow hard that was most likely an absolute bore to be around.
2007-01-16 18:51:41 · answer #3 · answered by squeaky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uhhh, just a wild guess.... maybe since he processes thought, he is living, cuz he can recognize that he's alive? haha, i have no clue!
2007-01-16 18:26:15 · answer #4 · answered by Jacob R. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me, it means thinking describes what kind of person he is.
2007-01-16 19:41:48 · answer #5 · answered by beez 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My take on it is:
Think before you speak and what you say and do is a reflection of YOU................ INTEGRITY
2007-01-16 18:32:27 · answer #6 · answered by Pat M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is human after all.
2007-01-16 18:28:35 · answer #7 · answered by Erase Program Read Only Memory 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question dude.
2007-01-16 18:24:31 · answer #8 · answered by Luc G 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋