I think therefore I am
“I think therefore I am” is one of the most famous philosophical sayings around. Descartes made this famous saying in Discourse on the Method. Most people have heard it, many will not attribute it to Descartes. He was making a simple statement about doubt and the existence of the world he perceived around him. He could only be certain that he existed because to doubt otherwise would be a paradox. To think requires existence, so to attempt to take the position that nothing existed would be false. Therefore he at least must exist (or to be more accurate I exist).
Interesting position to take. I was in discussion after one or too many beers with an old colleague who stated that he thought Philosophy to be pointlss. There are a number of definitions of Philosophy but the one I think fits best is “Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods”. In short I think Philosophy is about rational thought. There are many fields of Philosophy but what it comes down to is just thinking.
Now maybe Philosophy is a waste of time. It is in itself an interesting point to think through and debate. But to write off ‘thinking’ in such a general way is an odd position to take. Remember “I think therefore I am”. Stop thinking and where does that leave you?
There are a few ways to answer that question. But to do so would invalidate his argument if he tried so I do not expect to be hearing from him soon on this point.
Interesting position to take. I was in discussion after one or too many beers with an old colleague who stated that he thought Philosophy to be pointlss. There are a number of definitions of Philosophy but the one I think fits best is “Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods”. In short I think Philosophy is about rational thought. There are many fields of Philosophy but what it comes down to is just thinking.
Now maybe Philosophy is a waste of time. It is in itself an interesting point to think through and debate. But to write off ‘thinking’ in such a general way is an odd position to take. Remember “I think therefore I am”. Stop thinking and where does that leave you?
There are a few ways to answer that question. But to do so would invalidate his argument if he tried so I do not expect to be hearing from him soon on this point.
posted by So long and thanks for all the fish at
4:14 pm
2 Comments:
Oh no he didn't. He said "I think I am therefore I am."
I
Thank you Colm Sence.
I am no language guru and so cannot translate the Cogito, ergo sum. However, I would consider the two statements "I think therefore I am" and "I think I am therefore I am" to be subtly different interpretations of what he was trying to say (as I understand it, possibly wrongly). He did change this statement to “I am, I exist” in Meditations on First Philosophy which was a later publication than Discourse because he did not want to imply inference. However, that aside the first version more appropriately describes the point he was trying to make I think. It was the process of thought which meant he existed as even the process of thinking (doubting) would require his existence. And that’s the crux surely. He was dealing with doubt and to think about doubting his existence led him to the paradox. It was not that he was thinking that he existed, it was the inability to doubt his existence without paradox. Therefore there is no alternative but to exist. So the second statement about “I think I am, therefore I am” is over specified somewhat as it is the process of him thinking which drives his belief of existence not the specific thought that he exists.
But I am no expert on this subject so I may be wrong.
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