Cogito ergo sum

The subject of philosophy is a study that can be viewed in many different ways. Some ways vary in extremes from one another, but they all wish to pursue the same thing; the understanding of knowledge and human excellence. One of the most popular arguments is the comparison of mind and body. Through this paper I will go in depth on the individuals theories and discoveries, then compare them using the ideas from Plato’s Phaedo and Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy. Both philosophers…

there is one argument Descartes, says, can be proven. This is the idea that humans think and have knowledge within their minds. Specifically, that thoughts have to originate from somewhere. Descartes uses the phrase I think therefore, I am or Cogito ergo sum. This statement is enough evidence…

Since Rene Descartes first penned the phrase “cogito ergo sum”, Western thought has been obsessed with the notion of the self and its significance. At the core of one’s self is his identity -- his absolute consistency with himself, which “derives its distinction from what it is not” (Bennet, Grossburg, and Morris 173). An inherent faith in the validity of this identity is vital, lest we become vulnerable to descending into an abyss of self-doubt and total nihilism. Yet with the introduction of…

| |Subject: |Philosophy | |Date: |7 Feb 2010 | Explain and assess one or more Descartes’ arguments for the existence of God Descartes applies the ‘Cogito ergo sum’ (‘I think therefore I am’) argument from the second meditation to prove another foundational truth, which is the existence of God. He uses his personal Christian belief and definition of God to build upon this proposition and tries to prove…

various possibilities in his method of doubt which seem to contribute to the idea that humans can’t in fact achieve knowledge. While his argument on these circumstances may seem intriguing, however, Descartes eventually touches on the idea of “cogito ergo sum,” which translates to “I think, therefore I am.”…

A Review of The Greeks and Greek Love, James Davidson Davidson, James. The Greeks and Greek Love: a bold new exploration of the ancient world. Random House, 2007. xxxiv. 644. James Davidson is a history professor at the University of Warwick in England. He has authored Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens, and he contributes…

Whether or not we have free will has serious implications about morality, the punishment of criminals, the concepts of heaven and hell, and other related topics. The theory of universal determinism poses a challenge to free will, suggesting that all actions could be predicted. There are three positions on universal determinism: compatibilism and the two main versions of incompatibilism, hard determinism and libertarianism. In this paper, I will discuss these three positions, offering…

Body and Mind: The Same and Different Thought. Consciousness. Knowledge. All aspects of the human mind that remain one of the greatest phenomenon, both philosophically and scientifically. Many have postulated its complexity and whether its relationship with the physical world is spiritual or mechanical, but even in the 21st century, questions remain. Somehow, our mind has developed into this complex system that, through electrical impulses, is able to manipulate the physical world. Some believe…

The philosopher Albert Camus paints and bleak picture of the human existence, saying that our lives have no meaning and are, as a consequence absurd, because all our efforts are futile and hopeless. However, if we can accept that choice is intrinsic to a thinking being, then we can admit to ourselves that everything we do, no matter how insignificant, possesses some meaning and it gives our existence purpose. There are two certainties in life deduced by the thinking of Rene Descartes; one is…

Prepared for instructor Mrs. Vafiades 11th Mar 2016 The Blade Runner Movie Summary In the year 2019, Los Angeles has become a dark and distorted city. Rick Deckard an ex cop, is a Blade Runner. Blade runners are people assigned to kill replicants. The replicants are robots that have all physical attributes of human’s beings and can’t be distinguished from humans except for if tests are run. When four replicants committed blood munity on the off World colony, Deckard is called out of…