Although Descartes believed that only God could truly be said to have perfect wisdom, he also thought that humans could come close to this state through meditation and careful reasoning. From this he concluded that human beings can know many true things about the world around them.ĭescartes's philosophy became known as rationalism because it suggested that we can gain absolute certainty about any issue by using our minds wisely. He was therefore convinced of at least one truth: that he existed.īeing confident about at least one thing showed him that he could obtain other true beliefs by thinking carefully and thoroughly about all possible ways that he might be mistaken. Thus, he concluded that he was probably not merely dreaming when he doubted whether he was asleep or awake. The phrase means 'I think, therefore I am'.ĭescartes reasoned that since he was sure about anything he doubted, he must also be certain about being certain. It is the one assertion that has withstood his methodical doubt.

Where do I think, therefore, I come from?Ĭogito ergo sum is a statement made by the French philosopher René Descartes in his Discourse on Method (1637) as a first step in establishing the attainability of specific knowledge. In the 20th century, rationalism made a comeback with people such as Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein using their brains to figure out some of life's biggest questions. This form of thinking continued into the 19th century when it was replaced by irrationalism which said that we can know nothing except through our senses and that everything we think we know is actually just an illusion. Because of this, many problems that came up during the Enlightenment-such as religion's role in government-were solved using only human logic and no divine intervention. Rationalism said that we can know reality directly through our minds and reason. This idea became known as rationalism and it was very popular in Europe at the time. So he concluded that he existed objectively even though he knew nothing other than his thoughts. He believed that since he was thinking, he must be something more than just thought-that he had a real existence beyond his thoughts. It is often attributed to René Descartes but this is false.ĭescartes used it as a way to begin his philosophical system. As a result, the famous phrase 'I think therefore I am,' or in Latin, the cogito-'Cogito ergo sum,' was coined. The only thing that stays constant is that there is a mind or consciousness doing the questioning and believing. What is the meaning of I think, therefore I am? The understanding that what is going on inside my mind isn't real unless it produces behavior is one of the most important in psychology. In other words, without any behavior to back it up, no reality value can be given to my mental activity. So, the quote 'I think, therefore I am' means that unless I act on my thinking, I am merely imagining that I am thinking. Only when I act on an idea, can I be said to have been thinking about something. Therefore, I have not been thinking about jumping off a cliff. If I do not act on my thought of jumping off a cliff, then it remains a mere idea in my head. The other half is acting on our thoughts. For example, if I think about jumping off a cliff, then act on this thought, I have been thinking about jumping off a cliff.Īccording to REBT, this is only half of the equation. According to this view, since thinking involves forming ideas and concepts, then acting on these ideas and concepts is necessary for what we call 'thinking'. It is believed by many psychologists that thinking leads to action. REBT, on the other hand, expands on Descartes' assertion. It indicates that, while other information may be a fiction of one's imagination, deceit, or error, the mere act of doubting one's own existence serves as proof of the reality of one's own mind for there to be thought, there must be a thinking entity (or self).

Who said i think therefore i am