I think, therefore, exist.

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idea, proposed by Descartes, "I think, therefore I exist" (in the original sounds like Cogito ergo sum), - a statement which was first uttered a long time ago, back in the 17th century.Today it is considered a philosophical statement, it constitutes a fundamental element of the thought of modern times, more precisely, of Western rationalism.Adoption retained popularity in the future.Today, the phrase "I think, therefore, exist" know of any educated person.

thought Descartes Descartes

advanced this proposition as true, the accuracy of the primary, in which it is impossible to doubt, and therefore, with which you can build a "house" of true knowledge.This argument should not be taken as a deduction form "I think the one who exists: I think, therefore I exist."The essence of it, on the contrary, samodostovernosti obviously existence as a thinking subject: any act of thought (and wider - the experience of consciousness, the idea, as is not limited to thinking cogito) finds exercising, thinking at reflexive glance.This refers to the act of consciousness of the subject Controller self: I thought and discover contemplating this thinking, myself, standing behind its content and acts.

options formuilirovok

Option Cogito ergo sum («think, therefore, exist") in the most important work of Descartes is not used, although the wording of the wrongly cited as an argument with reference to the work in 1641.Descartes feared for what they used in the formulation of the early work allowed other than the context in which he used it in his reasoning, interpretation.Seeking to move away from creating a semblance of a particular interpretation of inference, as in fact meant an immediate judgment of truth, self-evident, the author of "I think, therefore I exist" removes the first part of the above sentence, leaving only the "I am" ("I am").He writes (Thinking II), that whenever uttered the words "I am", "I am," or they are perceived by the mind, it will be a judgment on the true need.

habitual form of expression, Ego cogito, ergo sum (in translation - "I think, therefore I exist"), the meaning of which is now, hope you understood, appears as an argument in 1644, entitled "Principles of Philosophy".It is written in Latin by Descartes.However, this is not only from the wording of the idea of ​​"think, therefore, exist."There were others.

predecessor Descartes, Augustine

not only Descartes came to the argument "I think, therefore I exist."Who said the same words?Respondent.Long before this thinker such an argument offered by St. Augustine in his controversy with the skeptics.It can be found in the book of the philosopher called "The City of God" (11 book, 26).The phrase sounds like: Si fallor, sum («If I am wrong, then, therefore I am").

difference between the thoughts of Descartes and Augustine

fundamental difference between Descartes and Augustine, however, lies in the consequences, objectives and context of the argument "I think, therefore, exist."

Augustine begins his thought with the assertion that people are looking into his soul, recognize the image of God in themselves, since we exist and we know about it, and we love our knowledge and being.This philosophical idea corresponds to the so-called threefold nature of God.Augustine develops his thought, saying that he is not afraid of any objections concerning the above truths from various academics who might ask: "What if you kidding?" Thinker would have answered that for this reason it exists.Because it can not deceive the one who does not exist.

Looking with faith in his soul, Augustine as a result of using this argument comes to God.Descartes also looks back with doubt and comes to consciousness, subject, thinking substance, which is a basic requirement of distinctiveness and clarity.That is the first pacifies cogito, transforming everything in God.Second - problematize everything else.Because, after attained at the truth of his own human existence, should refer to the conquest of reality, different from the "I", constantly seeking in this case to the distinctness and clarity.

Descartes himself pointed out the differences between its own argument and saying of Augustine in his reply Andreas Colva.

Hindu parallels "I think, therefore I exist»

Who said that such thoughts and ideas were characteristic only of Western rationalism?In the East, also came to a similar conclusion.According to S. Lobanov, Russian Indology Descartes this idea is in the Indian philosophy of one of the fundamental principles of monistic systems - Sankara's Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism, or para-Advaita, the most famous representative is Abhinavagupta.The scientist believes that this claim is put forward as the primary certainty around which to build the knowledge, which, in turn, is significant.

value of this statement

statement "I think, therefore I exist" belongs to Descartes.After him, most philosophers gave great importance to the theory of knowledge, and they are indebted to him pretty much it.This statement makes our mind more reliable than even matter.And, in particular, its own mind for us is more significant than the other way of thinking.In every philosophy, initiated by Descartes ("I think, therefore I exist"), there is a tendency to the presence of subjectivity, as well as to consider the matter as the only object that can be known.If at all possible to do using the output from the fact that we already know about the nature of mind.

This scientist of the 17th century, the term "thinking" is only implicitly involves the fact that in the future will be marked by thinkers as consciousness.But on the horizon there are philosophical themes of the future theory.In light of the clarification of Descartes conscious to action is represented as the hallmark of thinking.