DesCartes Deserves a Plaudit

 

DesCartes Deserves a Plaudit


The study of the nature of existence is called “ontology”. We are especially interested in the nature of our own existence. DesCartes challenged conventional thinking on this issue and came up with a surprising conclusion.

By way of introduction, I'll describe DesCartes's exploration of the problem of establishing the reality of his own body. He argues, “I think, therefore I am”. His reasoning is that he must exist as that thing that asks the question of his existence. He then argues that it is impossible to prove that that thing is a body. At first, it seems so simple. We know it exists because we see it, hear it, touch it, etc. But, following DesCartes's reasoning, those experiences don't prove anything. Why? Because it is the physical body itself that is providing the evidence – the seeing, hearing, etc. And therefore, that argument for the existence of the physical world is a circular argument - the physical body testifying to itself - and consequently the argument is invalid.

Now, let's examine this conclusion. First, DesCartes has only proved his existence to himself, although he does make a convincing argument. He has not proved that his body does not exist; just that it doesn't necessarily exist. Then the crucial question remains, “If it doesn't exist, just what is he?”.

So, let's next take a look at two opposing views on that question.

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