Cogito Ergo Sum "i think therefore i am"?

Question

im really into Descartes philosophy and im having trouble with his famous quote Cogito Ergo Sum "i think therefore i am". can you help me understand his quote much better thanks

Answer 1

Hi David,
He was trying to establish a fundamental basis for everything in life : something which could not be doubted... He hopped through quite a few hoops to come to this famous conclusion "I think, therefore I am" ("Cogito ergo sum") ....
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The basic idea was : that he observed his thoughts directly, and found that he couldn't doubt anything without THINKING, so therefore he must at least exist....
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Although this is a famous conclusion, it is actually : INCORRECT logic.... Just because thoughts are occurring, does not indicate that there is any "person" doing the thinking... In fact, in Zen, it's not uncommon to hear the exact opposite argument : that "a person" is a product of thoughts, not the SOURCE of thoughts...
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Therefore that isn't YOU, doing the thinking... Deeper exploration can reveal quite clearly that "myself" is a product of thought and conditioning, and that Descartes completely "jumped the gun" in concluding "I think, therefore I am"....
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What he should have said was : "thoughts occur, therefore something is definitely going on here"..... :)
He put Descartes before the horse....
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Thanks, for the question!;)

My regards!

Take care!

Answer 2

It's the first certainty Descartes comes up with. Before that, he had gone into the enterprise of doubting everything he had ever learned, to see if he couldn't come up with something he simply could not doubt. After doubting everything learned and stored in memory and the validity of what his senses told him, he finally concluded that because he was the one doing the thinking, he could not doubt, at the very least, that he existed and that he was that thing that thought.
So wondering if anything at all could be believed for certain, Descartes comes to the conclusion that he is incapable of doubting his own existence, since even in doubting (a kind of thinking) he would still be the one doing the doubting.

Answer 3

Hi !!!

I agree totally a 100%, with "Opinionat"...

There is no greater satisfaction that the fact, that even doubting, or being wrong about something one believes, because
one has the capacity to discern into thoughts, and pick and choose, whatever we want to think or do; gives one the definite certainty, that is ONE who is, and NO ONE else!!!

In other words, the perfect example of the practice of "FREE WILL" at it's best!!!! No one but ONE can actually think, ONE THOUGHTS!!!! And be certain of it as ONE is THE ONE who is doing the thinking!!!!

Now, when another person is doing the thinking, even if we agree with that person, we will always be in doubt, as since we were NOT the ones, doing the thinking!!!

For example, when in a situation where some one is to take a decision for others, usually, one has ones, way of thinking even if we agreed to it, we have the sense within us NOT to be completely sure of the decision as being the best one, because we were NOT the ones who did the thinking or made the decision.

GOD BLESS YOU & HAPPY THINKING

A.Z.

Answer 4

I explain my existence in this manner because I believe I am not merely my body, but also my spirit.
I know that I exist because I have a functioning, reasoning brain---that I use all the time. I continue to learn everyday, because I'm lucky enough to be here alive, healthy and bright. I treat my brain as my most important muscle, so I exercise it regularly.
This wonderful brain allows me to think, so I know I exist.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Very good question! However you may or may not be prepared for my answer! "I think therefore i am" Our thought is what is the cause for all that befalls us all the days of our lives from now to forever. There is no one creator of the universe waiting to damn nor save our souls when we die! our thoughts are the only cause for that in which we experience! (I'm not religious nor an atheist. I'm merely just waking to life now @ 27yrs old) there is no one and only path to our salvation that we all must seek out individually! although there are fundamental truths to life we must be in harmony with. and nobody can teach you! you give it to yourself! "Enlightenment" like i said, you may not accept this but it is the truth and your entitled to it!

Answer 6

Descartes was attempting to prove his existence.

When he realized that self awareness is self existence he proved that he existed. This catharsis is evident in his famous expression.

Answer 7

I think, therefore I am. But if I think not, am I not? I think not.

And Lo: Descartes desapears in a puff of logic....

Answer 8

the actual quote is "cogito ergo spud" "i think, therefore i yam"

Answer 9

I think you'll get better responses if you first spell out what your understanding of it is so that people know where any holes might be. otherwise, you're kind of just asking people to do your thinking for you.

Answer 10

You are that which is aware of being aware; the identity which IS the individual. Then when you are aware that you are you then you are