"I Think Therefore I Am" Explained

Alex O'Connor2 minutes read

Descartes coined the phrase "I think therefore I am" to establish a foundation of certainty through doubting all beliefs, viewing it as an intuitive truth rather than a logical argument. He emphasized reflecting on the continuous present tense, suggesting "I am thinking therefore I exist," as the preferred translation for a more intuitive interpretation of his philosophy.

Insights

  • Descartes' famous phrase "I think therefore I am" emphasizes the connection between thinking and existence, showcasing his rationalist belief in innate knowledge and a priori truths beyond doubt.
  • Descartes' cogito, "I am thinking therefore I exist," serves as an intuitive foundation of his philosophy, highlighting the importance of continuous reflection and the self-evident nature of this fundamental truth, challenging traditional deductive interpretations.

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Recent questions

  • What is the meaning of "Cogito ergo sum"?

    I think, therefore I am.

  • What is Descartes' philosophy based on?

    Rationalism and innate knowledge.

  • How did Descartes establish certainty in his philosophy?

    By doubting all beliefs to find undeniable knowledge.

  • What is the difference between rationalists and empiricists?

    Rationalists believe in innate knowledge, while empiricists rely on observation.

  • What is the significance of Descartes' phrase "I think therefore I am"?

    It establishes the certainty of one's existence.

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Summary

00:00

Descartes' Cogito: Thinking Equals Existence

  • Rene Descartes coined the famous phrase "I think therefore I am" as part of his philosophy.
  • Descartes belonged to the rationalist school of philosophers who believed in innate knowledge.
  • Rationalists like Descartes believed in a priori knowledge, independent of experience, unlike empiricists who believed in a posteriori knowledge from observation.
  • Descartes aimed to discover a priori knowledge beyond doubt in his work "Meditations on First Philosophy."
  • Descartes introduced the concept of doubting all beliefs that could be false to establish a foundation of certainty.
  • Descartes used the evil demon thought experiment to doubt everything, including mathematical truths, to find undeniable knowledge.
  • Descartes concluded that his existence is certain because doubting is a form of thinking, leading to the famous phrase "I think therefore I am."
  • There is a debate on whether Descartes intended the cogito as an argument or an intuition.
  • Descartes viewed the cogito as a self-evident intuition rather than a syllogistic argument.
  • The phrase "Cogito ergo sum" in Latin is a more accurate translation of Descartes' original French phrase, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on the cogito for its truth.

16:18

Descartes' Cogito: Thinking, Existing, Intuitively.

  • Descartes realizes the importance of the continuous present tense in translating his cogito, suggesting "I am thinking therefore I exist" over "I think therefore I am" for a more intuitive interpretation.
  • The distinction between the syllogistic deductive and intuitive interpretations of Descartes' cogito is crucial, impacting the understanding of his philosophy in English.
  • The cogito, "I am thinking therefore I exist," is preferred by the speaker for its emphasis on the act of thinking, aligning with Descartes' intuitive approach.
  • The cogito serves as the foundation of Descartes' philosophy, providing psychological certainty rather than absolute truth, as demonstrated through examples of unshakable beliefs.
  • Descartes believed that the inability to doubt a proposition signifies its truth, establishing the cogito as the first item of knowledge and a necessary truth in his philosophy.
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