"I Think, Therefore I Am"

Author: Rene Descartes (1596-1650). He was born in France, but lived out the end of his life in Holland. Although Descartes is most noted for his mathematical application to philosophy, he also had a Jesuit education, graduated with a law degree from Poitiers, and spent some time as a soldier. He was also a mathematical genius, developed the Cartesian coordinate system and analytic geometry, which were crucial to the development Calculus. Arguably, his most notable achievements were in rational philosophy. He is dubbed as “the Father of Modern Philosophy.”

Context: It was on one of his military tours in a German town, where Descartes claims he “uncovered” the mathematical rationale of the human mind as granted by Almighty God. He developed the process of reasoning and application; analyzing specific information based on general information. He subsequently published his masterpiece, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason. “I think, therefore I am” is an excerpt taken from this work.

Summary: “I think, therefore I am” is a discourse on the mind, the rational world, and the nature of thought. Descartes first highlights four principles key to rationale thought. The first rule; never innocently accept anything as truth. The second principle; break down observation into the smallest components possible. The third rule; begin reason with the most easily comprehensible components. The last principle; to employ this process in all intellectual encounters. Descartes then contemplates his own existence. He determines that since he can think, he must exist, “I think, therefore I am.” However, in reflection to his own being, Descartes analyzes himself to be slightly imperfect. He concludes that his existence, regardless of its imperfections, must be granted by a higher power. Thus, Descartes rationally proves the existence of God. He states that Reason and question are the foremost principles that should govern all thought. Descartes concludes with his decision that all truth must stem from God.

Quote: “I who thought, must of necessity [exist]; and remarking that this truth, I think, therefore I am, was so firm… that I could unhesitatingly accept it as the first principle of the philosophy I was seeking….”