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2007-02-28 03:24:34 · 25 answers · asked by cheerful_kitty 1 in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

25 answers

This line comes from Descartes’ attempt to create a philosophical argument that supports his other mathematical endeavors (he is the founder of the Cartesian coordinate system). In his argument, Descartes begins by doubting everything in the world, particularly any knowledge that he has received from his senses, since he sees this knowledge to be deceptive. For example, when we look at two different trees, one which is right next to us and another which is one hundred yards away, the tree which is close to us will appear larger than the tree that is farther away from us even if the farther tree is in fact larger. It is this sort of sensory deception which compels Descartes to begin his argument by doubting everything he possibly can.

In the course of doubting, Descartes doubts the existence of absolutely everything that exists, yet he is unable to deny his own existence. He concludes that, since he has the power to doubt at all, he must in fact exist- thus he concludes "I think therefore I am." Throughout the rest of his argument, Descartes proceeds by "proving" the existence of God and proving that objects in the world do actually exist.

Descartes argument is largely rejected by most philosophers as offering a compelling proof for the existence of things and of God. However, Descartes' attempt to prove that things do in fact exist revolutionized philosophical thinking. While I personally do not find Descartes' proof of God convincing, I find it difficult to deny Descartes’ assertion that he must exist if he thinks he exists and has the ability to doubt.

2007-02-28 04:36:12 · answer #1 · answered by hypnoticduck45 2 · 1 0

thats the only thing you can really know. all reality is is what you perceive at the present moment. for all i know everything around me has been conjured up by my imagination, even my memory of what happened to me 2 seconds ago could be 'false'. so what i feel right now is the only truth. i think therefore i am. or should it be i think therefore you are? or even i think therefore the world exists? not really got the same ring to it does it...?

2007-02-28 12:03:29 · answer #2 · answered by spiralling 3 · 0 0

of course its true. If u couldnt think how could you know u are?
Rene Descartes made that sentece using a mental exercise that deletes all what ur not sure that exist for reach a conclusion of what u really are sure that exist, this one.

Imagine that all u knew that exist it dont exist, like a far country u have never visited cuz ur not really sure that it exist, and ur senses cuz sometimes the senses tricks u. All what u see hear smell feel dont exist. So also you are not sure if your body exist, so it dont exist. All what u think it exist was a trick of an evil person that con u. So u dont exist, but i still exist why? im still think, i need to stop thinking for be sure that i dont exist but i cant stop thinking....so..i have to exist. Conclusion, i think therefore i am.
If think, it needs a brain where to think, so the brain exist,if the brain exist i need a body where the brain be, so the body exist,etc etc

2007-02-28 04:20:42 · answer #3 · answered by dsro 3 · 1 0

In that form, I think it's an example of the logical fallacy known as 'petitio principii', or 'begging the question' as we also call it. The statement presupposes that it's I who is doing the thinking, and therefore assumes in advance the conclusion it's meant to be trying to prove. If you rephrase it 'There is thinking going on, therefore I am', it's easier to see how the second part of the statement doesn't necessarily follow from the first part.

2007-02-28 12:27:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

'I think therefore I am' is a Philosophical viewpoint.

The truth of the statement lies, not in the way it's phrased but in your belief of whether it explains the concept.

Nobody can get inside anyone elses head so 'I think therefore I know I am, but you may not be'!

Are you a man dreaming you are a Butterfly, or a Butterfly dreaming you are a man?

Prove it!


:~}

2007-02-28 03:31:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Yes.
If you try and imagine that someone is fooling you about everything, they're making you belive that trees and grass and your body exists. They even try and make you believe your mind doesn't exist. But this can't be true can it, in order to doubt your mind you need a mind to doubt it, in order to fool someone, you need someone to fool. By thinking about your existance, you prove it. It does however only prove you exist at the moment of thinking, not that the past was real, or that the future will occur, or that your body exists.
If you think, you are.

2007-02-28 08:54:11 · answer #6 · answered by Tom31 2 · 0 0

Well, it's like this: The moment you use the first "I" you are in trouble. If "I" is thinking, it means he/she already is (exists). On the other hand, if you reverse the statement, you are also in trouble. How do you know you exist unless you have had time to think and realise that you do, in fact, exist? However, there is SOME truth to the statement in the sense that it is impossible to exist and not think just as it is impossible to think and not exist.

2007-02-28 03:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anpadh 6 · 0 0

There are 2 truths in this:
1. you think
2. you are

2007-02-28 03:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by karu_malar 2 · 0 0

Some truth but there is really not very much to make out of it - all human think - all animals think (in the broader sense of the word) - and hardly any plants think very much in the way of thoughts - and they too am/are/exist, so not much new is learned through this one, I'd say.

2007-02-28 03:35:31 · answer #9 · answered by Wise Kai 3 · 0 1

Of course....it is the only thing that differentiates you from the other life forms although it is slowing being discovered that other animals and perhaps plants have some thinking processes going on....."you're cheerful and intelligent, therefore are you pretty?"

2007-02-28 03:28:55 · answer #10 · answered by superbird 4 · 0 1

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