Descartes Knowledge
A detailed Summary of Descartes Knowledge
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.

necessarily prove that we are human beings, it does prove that we are beings. At this point Descartes would say
we say that it is impossible to not be thinking because to stop thinking is to no longer exist. Descartes would say
smells, sounds, and feels like something different then the original piece of wax, we know that it is the same thing.
a thing. It still remains that even though we can't remember any thought before we woke, we know that there was
our senses aren't reliable, when we see things we still have the experience of seeing that thing. Even if in a dream,
things which we don't remember. I don't remember being born but that does not mean that I wasn't thinking at
Because we think and the mind perceives there must be something that exists. Objections to the cogito
Some common words found in the essay are:
Rene Descartes, Descartes Knowledge, deep sleep, remember thinking, thinking exist, don't remember, piece wax, remember thinking thinking, ball wax, wakefulness experience, senses aren't, sensory data, thinking thinking,
Approximate Word count = 1346
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
Category: History
Saved Paper
Newest Essays
- My Personal Value System
- Iraq and High Energy...
- The Development of English...
- Critique of a Research...
- Visiting the Elderly in...
- Ad Critique: Peters, Jeremy...
- Catell's Structure-Based...
- Current Diabetes Epidemic:...
- Job Search: Push Pull...
- Proposal: Social...
Testimonials
-
"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M. -
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P. -
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J. -
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W. -
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.
