Descartes knowledge
Descartes knowledgeDescartes Knowledge
The question of
our existence in reality is a question which philosophers have tackled throughout time. This essay will look at the
phrase, cogito ergo sum or I think therefore I am, a phrase brought about by Rene Descartes. This phrase is the
backbone of Descartes whole philosophy of our existence in reality. As long as we are thinking things, we exist.
When we look at this approach to our existence we must first deny that any sensory data that we receive is
believable or it is conceivable that it is false. This means that we can�t really know that anything we perceive
through our senses is actually an accurate interpretation of reality. After we�ve established that our senses aren�t
totally reliable we then have to look at what we know of without our senses. Descartes says that the only thing
that we can be sure of is that we are thinking things. Even in denying that we are thinking things we are affirming
the actual point that we look to deny. The thought that we are not thinking things is still a thought and therefore
proof that we are thinking things. For it is not conceivable for one to think of a point at which we are not thinking.
We can try to persuade ourselves that there are times when we are not thinking but in doing so we see that we do
exist. For it is impossible to persuade nothing of something, so our existence is solely dependent on the fact that
we are things, thinking things that can be persuaded. Even though the fact that we are thinking things doesn�t
necessarily prove that we are human beings, it does prove that we are beings. At this point Descartes would say
that we don�t know what we are just that we are. A thinking thing really has a very vague description and cannot
really be applied to us as beings which we perceive. So what is the connection between what we believe to be us
and what is us? Descartes would say we have experiences of what we think we are. For example, even though
our senses aren�t reliable, when we see things we still have the experience of seeing that thing. Even if in a dream,
an apple...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.