The primary qualities of Res Cogitans (thinking thing) are thinking and it is non-extended, and its secondary qualities are sense perception and imagination. Descartes reaches this conclusion by having a clear and distinct perception of the truth. He concluded that he has to exist as a soul even if he doesn’t exist physically, because in order to be able to have thought and be able to doubt, he has to at least exist as a thinking thing (Res Cogitans). Descartes comes to this conclusion by first introducing the Dream Hypothesis and the Evil Demon Hypothesis in meditation one. These two hypotheses are part of his use of hyperbolic thought. With the Dream Hypothesis he is thinking that maybe the only things that exist are our dreams. On the other hand, with the Evil Demon Hypothesis he is thinking that something malignant is influencing his thoughts and dreams. He identifies the Evil Demon as an entity that lies, and gives you false experiences, therefore, it allows him to doubt everything, even that 2+3 = 5. Secondly, in meditation two he starts doubting everything, even his existence. This leads him to the indubitable truth “Corgito ergo sum” which means “I think, therefore, I am”. When he concludes this, then he discovers that he exists as a soul/mind even if he doesn’t exist physically. (René Descartes,
The primary qualities of Res Cogitans (thinking thing) are thinking and it is non-extended, and its secondary qualities are sense perception and imagination. Descartes reaches this conclusion by having a clear and distinct perception of the truth. He concluded that he has to exist as a soul even if he doesn’t exist physically, because in order to be able to have thought and be able to doubt, he has to at least exist as a thinking thing (Res Cogitans). Descartes comes to this conclusion by first introducing the Dream Hypothesis and the Evil Demon Hypothesis in meditation one. These two hypotheses are part of his use of hyperbolic thought. With the Dream Hypothesis he is thinking that maybe the only things that exist are our dreams. On the other hand, with the Evil Demon Hypothesis he is thinking that something malignant is influencing his thoughts and dreams. He identifies the Evil Demon as an entity that lies, and gives you false experiences, therefore, it allows him to doubt everything, even that 2+3 = 5. Secondly, in meditation two he starts doubting everything, even his existence. This leads him to the indubitable truth “Corgito ergo sum” which means “I think, therefore, I am”. When he concludes this, then he discovers that he exists as a soul/mind even if he doesn’t exist physically. (René Descartes,