Talk:Cogito ergo sum

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Revision as of 22:35, 30 December 2007 by imported>Hayford Peirce (did Descartes first say this in Latin, or in French? If French, why is it known to us in the Latin version?)
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 Definition:  René Descartes' most famous catchphrase: "I think, therefore I am". [d] [e]
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 Workgroup category:  Philosophy [Categories OK]
 Talk Archive:  none  English language variant:  British English

Unfortunately I think, therefore I am reveals a rather counterproductive aspect of radical skepticism. Since part of the conclusion reached is that one can only be absolotely certain of one's own existance, and everything else in the universe is suspect, it makes it rather difficult to state anything at all as a "fact". You just can't really be certain. It might be important to emphasize this more in the article...--David Yamakuchi 22:31, 30 December 2007 (CST)

I thought that Descartes originally wrote it in the Latin. But maybe not. Did he first write (say) "Je pense, donc j'existe" or "Je pense, donc je suis"? If so, then why would it have come down to us in Latin rather than French? And, if this really is the case, this should also be explained in the article. I mean, after all, none of Shakespeare's famous phrases are known to us by their Latin translation....Hayford Peirce 22:35, 30 December 2007 (CST)
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