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"I think, therefore I am." ("Cogito, ergo sum.")
(1596-1650)
Margaret Arzumann
Philosophy 1000
Alexander Izrailevsky
04/20/2013
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Rene Descartes
The Father of Modern Philosophy
Rene Descartes was born in the French province of Touraine into a respected, wealthy
aristocratic family. When he was about nine years old, Descartes was sent to the Jesuit College.
He studied Greek, Latin, history, liberal arts, science, mathematics, and philosophy. Descartes
was so gifted, smart in philosophy and in mathematics as well. He tries to establish a universal
method of reasoning based on mathematical principles. Descartes was a father of modern
philosophy but also the modern rationalist. He refused to accept any truth that he did not square
with what he had verified as a true. Descartes saw the world as mathematical relationships, and
transformed wisdom into a work, a project. His goal was a creating a universal mathematical
language.
Rene Descartes believed that the reason was the primary source of all knowledge.
Rationalist thoughts that only reason can diverse reality from illusion and give meaning to
experience. According to his theory of rationalism, he argued that the paramount source of
knowledge is of a best quality than the knowledge acquired from empirical evidence. Descartes
most contribute his ideas in the rationalism which is an epistemological area of philosophy by his
study of the process of thinking itself. “Whatever I do, I think at the same time” (Soccio,
Archetypes of Wisdom).
First, sensual evidence, our senses can deceive us. For instance, when we look at the
airplane in the sky it seems too small. However, used the logic we can get a conclusion regarding
the right size. We can find out that object seem small not only because of the real size but also
due to the distance between object and us. Descartes credited quote stated him an experience
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where he doubted and realized his own existence. Through experience he understood his own
reality.
Second, according to Descartes we are born with a common sense “a priori”. God put in
baby brain a logical cheap when they are born. The baby has a basic logical structure, God
giving this structure (Izrailevsky, class notes). In contrast “a posteriori” knowledge derived
from sense experience. A posteriori truth also called factual truths. Not all philosophers agree
that a priori truths exist.
Third, Rene Descartes said that our brain like “lemashin”, like a computer. We have
sensual information. All human have the same structural information and have communicate
with each other like a computer. Also, the method that rationalist use to test and establish the
future complex ideas which is the “coherence theory of truth”. The rationalism argues that the
most certainties can be received by using logic. For instance, the knowledge of the axiom 0+0=0
is needed to be able to know that 0+1=1 or 0+2=2. Logic is better and true. The more
mathematic is better because it is giving you more reliability. We cannot trust the physical prove
because they have different size, shape, it is imperfect (Izrailevsky, class notes).
Rene Descartes was the first who did not write his ideas in Latin, for everyday language
he used French. He was supported simplicity because he believed that ideas will not modify the
quality but instead of that can distract the reader.
Rene Descartes introduces one of the most intriguing figures in the philosophy “evil
genius”. He supposed that evil genius is powerful and deceptive and it leads to consider that the
heavens, earth, colors, figures, sounds external world are illusions and dreams. Descartes asked
then himself under these conditions he would able to know anything. This is the famous Cogito,
ergo sum (“I think, therefore I am”). The meaning of the phrase is that someone wondering
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whether or not he or she exists is, in and of itself, proof that something, an "I", exists to do the
thinking. Descartes has established that the thinking thing possesses absolute certainty of its own
existence as a consciously thinking thing. He argues that we identify and know everything,
including bodily and material things through the mind (Soccio, Archetypes of Wisdom).
Rene Descartes is recognized in mathematics as a creator of the Cartesian coordinate
system which is uses algebra to describe geometry. Every time we graph an equation on a
Cartesian coordinate system, we are using the work of Rene Descartes. Cartesian coordinates are
used to locate a point in space by giving its relative distance from perpendicular intersecting
lines- the horizontal X-axis and vertical Y-axis. Also, Descartes innovated the use of x, y, z to
indicate unknowns in equation.
Rene Descartes established the existence of God to his satisfaction. The existence of God
will not only quarantee the possibility of knowledge with certainty but also makes a bridge
between religion and science, and between the imagination and reality. The essence of the human
person: limited and imperfect. However, the essence of God: unlimited and perfect. We are
limited imperfection (Izrailevsky, class notes). The idea of God for Descartes is unique. He
believes that he had clearly and distinctly demonstrated the reliability of reason and the
Rene Descartes was a Catholic, and he deep believed in a catholic religion but his
argument that each individual possesses the “natural light of reason” (Soccio, Archetypes of
Wisdom). Descartes always refused the Aristotelian and Scholastic traditions that had been the
dominant shape of philosophy throughout the Medieval times, and he rejected religious influence
in his scientific and philosophical studies. He discovered that Aristotle’s writings have many
errors. He closely and critically examined claims made by authorities to observation and clear
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thinking. Descartes‘s scientific interests led him to observe and experiment himself. He tries to
build a system of knowledge based on ideas what truth can be clearly known.
In conclusion, I would say it was little hard when given an assignment to pick a favorite
philosopher. All philosophers whom we have discussed in class so far have expressed me in
some views. I think that every philosopher is gifted and correct. It is complicated task for
philosopher, regardless of how he or she might be gifted, to perfectly grasp the multiples of
human relationships with an absolute precision. Philosophy can attach many aspects of our lives.
I chose Rene Descartes because he is a genius philosopher and also because of his distinguished
accomplishments in many fields.
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Works Cited
Izrailevsky, Alexander. “Class Notes”.
Soccio, Douglas. “Archetypes of Wisdom”.