I Think, Therefore I Am?

[Era Might]

Some philosopher said, "I think, therefore I am." Or something along those lines.

Discuss.

[Vincent Vega]

«[i]Je pense, donc je suis.[/i]» - René Descartes

Discutez.

Edited December 2, 2009 by USAirwaysIHS

[Sternhauser]

I think a lot of people think that some philosopher ascribed a causational meaning to his word "therefore." The way I read it in context, his statement says that that his awareness of himself through his thoughts [i]evidences[/i] the fact that he [i]does[/i] exist, not that the awareness itself causes his existence. Some philosopher catches far too much flak in Catholic circles, as though he were deliberately seeking to disseminate falsehoods. Some charity is definitely in order for some philosopher.

And Barbara Streisand's voice is definitely like butter.

~Sternhauser

Edited December 2, 2009 by Sternhauser

[Nihil Obstat]

Phenomenologically, it's really all we have to go on one way or another.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Nihil Obstat

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' date='01 December 2009 - 11:53 PM' timestamp='1259729626' post='2012947']
«[i]Je pense, donc je suis.[/i]» - René Descartes

Discutez.
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure the original was "Cogito, ergo sum".

EDIT: Apparently the French did come first.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Resurrexi

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Sternhauser' date='02 December 2009 - 12:13 AM' timestamp='1259730813' post='2012961']
I think a lot of people think that some philosopher ascribed a causational meaning to his word "therefore." The way I read it in context, his statement says that that his awareness of himself through his thoughts [i]evidences[/i] the fact that he [i]does[/i] exist, not that the awareness itself causes his existence.

~Sternhauser
[/quote]

Agreed.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Resurrexi' date='02 December 2009 - 12:25 AM' timestamp='1259731553' post='2012983']
I'm pretty sure the original was "Cogito, ergo sum".

EDIT: Apparently the French did come first.
[/quote]
C'est la vie, mon copain.

[Luigi]

I accept Sternhauser's analysis of Descartes' intended meaning of a doubly translated phrase.

If I were to accept the "causative 'therefore'" analysis, I would have to say the statement were incontrovertibly incorrect, because I know too many people who have never thought and yet very definitely exist.

And I like the name Rene (said the British way, with the accent on the first syllable), so I'm willing to take the more charitable approach to certain philosophers.

[Nihil Obstat]

How do you put the accent on the first syllable?

[Era Might]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='02 December 2009 - 01:16 AM' timestamp='1259734577' post='2013061']
How do you put the accent on the first syllable?
[/quote]
The same way you do in "CA-na-da"

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='02 December 2009 - 01:16 AM' timestamp='1259734577' post='2013061']
How do you put the accent on the first syllable?
[/quote]
Like CAfé, BUFfet, etc.

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='02 December 2009 - 01:16 AM' timestamp='1259734577' post='2013061']
How do you put the accent on the first syllable?
[/quote]

Ren'-ee? versus Ren-ay'

[Nihil Obstat]

Obviously I know *how* one does it....... what I really mean is how can you possibly say it like that? It sounds so wrong.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='02 December 2009 - 01:19 AM' timestamp='1259734780' post='2013067']
Obviously I know *how* one does it....... what I really mean is how can you possibly say it like that? It sounds so wrong.
[/quote]
Brought to you by the same people who hanged a monkey convicted of being a French spy.

[Era Might]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='02 December 2009 - 01:19 AM' timestamp='1259734780' post='2013067']
Obviously I know *how* one does it.......
[/quote]
Sometimes common sense isn't so common.