DQ7

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From W Y Ng:

The one thing that Decartes claimed he can not doubt on is "himself." If he doubts that, then he would have thought of everything as an illusion or some sort of dream, even for himself. He would have to placed himself in that illusion, too.

>rm says: Yes. The last part, though, sounds as if you are saying that he would have to be present in any dream of his, that I have to be present in my own dreams. Is this right? If so, please explain. I think this can be an interesting point.

>From Dorota:

Descartes can not doubt that he exist. He exist because he can think, which establish his existance-if there is a thought than there must be a thinker. He thinks therefore he exists.

>rm says: This is right. There's just one more (fairly subtle) point here, about why he can't doubt it. The main element of this point is that doubt is a kind of thought.

>From anna grier: The one thing Descartes cannot doubt is that he
exist, he can think and that he is a true thing, a thinking thing. His famous statement says it all, I THINK, THEREFORE, I AM. He can't doubt it because being a thinking thing he has a mind/intellect and understanding, things he was ignorant about before.

>rm says: Remember, he doesn't say 'I think therefore I am' in the Meditations, but something similar, though importantly different. And why can't he doubt his existence?

Descartes Reading Guide 7. Exactly, what is the one thing that Descartes claims he can not doubt? Why can’t he doubt it?		Back to Descartes Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From W Y Ng: The one thing that Decartes claimed he can not doubt on is "himself." If he doubts that, then he would have thought of everything as an illusion or some sort of dream, even for himself. He would have to placed himself in that illusion, too. >rm says: Yes. The last part, though, sounds as if you are saying that he would have to be present in any dream of his, that I have to be present in my own dreams. Is this right? If so, please explain. I think this can be an interesting point. >From Dorota: Descartes can not doubt that he exist. He exist because he can think, which establish his existance-if there is a thought than there must be a thinker. He thinks therefore he exists. >rm says: This is right. There's just one more (fairly subtle) point here, about why he can't doubt it. The main element of this point is that doubt is a kind of thought. >From anna grier: The one thing Descartes cannot doubt is that he exist, he can think and that he is a true thing, a thinking thing. His famous statement says it all, I THINK, THEREFORE, I AM. He can't doubt it because being a thinking thing he has a mind/intellect and understanding, things he was ignorant about before. >rm says: Remember, he doesn't say 'I think therefore I am' in the Meditations, but something similar, though importantly different. And why can't he doubt his existence?
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