"I Think Therefore I Am" Explained

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-------------------------VIDEO NOTES-------------------------
"I think, therefore I am" is perhaps the most famous phrase in the history of Western philosophy. Most people have heard it, many know what it means, but fewer still are aware of the myriad debates surrounding its meaning, translation, and success. I certainly wasn't before encountering it at university, where I chose to specialise in early modern philosophy.
This video is an introduction to "the cogito", as it is often called, and a brief exploration of some of the debates that surround it.
(A note: I refer to a horse and a horn as a Humean "simple idea" - this is not quite right: a simple idea is one which cannot be broken down into further simple ideas (such as colours, smells, etc.). To explain this nuance would have been an irrelevant detour, and the point ought still carry. A unicorn is, to correctly invoke Hume, a complex idea made up of further complex ideas, made up of simple ideas, which originate in simple impressions.)
(Note 2: Some empiricists will claim that knowledge comes primarily from our sense data, allowing for some limited a priori knowledge, and still call themselves empiricists.)
--------------RECOMMENDED READING---------------
René Descartes, "Meditations on First Philosophy" (meditations one and two): amzn.to/32SiBZd
John Cottingham, "Descartes" (chapter 2): amzn.to/3t8dv5M
Georges Dicker, "Descartes: An Analytical And Historical Introduction" (chapters 1-2): amzn.to/3HAv6re
Peter Markie, "The Cogito and its Importance", reprinted in the Cambridge Companion to Descartes: amzn.to/3ePTuZH
Also relevant:
For more information on rationalism - John Cottingham, "The Rationalists": amzn.to/336jEo5
David Hume's epistemology is mentioned, which can be read about in his "A Treatise of Human Nature", Book I, Part 1 and Book I, Part III §5: amzn.to/3380K0p
Baron Reed's example of psychological certainty is taken from his SEP entry, "Certainty": plato.stanford.edu/entries/ce...
------------------------TIMESTAMPS--------------------------
0:00 Introduction
1:05 1: Rationalism
3:58 2: The Evil Demon
6:36 3: The Cogito
10:16 4: Deduction or Intuition?
15:30 5: A Mistranslation of Descartes?
18:35 6: Certainty vs Truth
20:43 Closing
---------------------SPECIAL THANKS-----------------------
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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[@calumweir5115]

A philosopher walks into a bar; the bartender says “a beer”. The philosopher responds “I think not”… and then he disappears

[@hasnainkhan7338]

out

[@martiddy]

That's a good one haha

[@SasidharPamganamamula]

🙂 That's a good one.

[@barkYdarkATFB]

A skeleton walks into a bar and says “gimme a beer and a mop”

[@Vicky-fl7pv]

@@barkYdarkATFB 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@rayanmallah4197]

i cannot comprehend not thinking, not existing, i just cannot get it into my mind that theres gonna be a day where i wont think therefore i wont be, i truly wish ican understand not existing

[@cloud5544]

its actually so interesting because i like to imagine not existing as something that has already been, before i was born, and yet i can not imagine it because it is nothing yet is it something that was (writing it this way is the only way that makes sense to me maybe i didnt not “happen” i just wasnt) which is literally the answer, before i, i was not, and i have no memory or perception of it, yet i acknowledge it and know if it

[@VVVV-hk6kb]

​@cloud5544 I'm scared of my thoughts honestly. I'm pretty sure I'll go crazy one day

[@americafy9195]

Well, Kant would respond that what you can conceive of through your understanding is bound by subjectivity, in the sense of being a subject, and therefore it perfectly makes sense that you can't imagine not being a subject. Or to put it in a more kantian fashion : the very conditions of possibility of comprehending non-existence contradict the conditions of possibility of you being able to comprehend anything, that is, existence itself. Everything becomes clearer when said Kant's style, doesn't it ? Hmm, perhaps not actually. TL;DR: it's perfectly normal you kant.

[@robdavies4294]

It'll be like the long bit before you were born...

[@sorenkair]

you've never been unconscious or blacked out or had a dreamless sleep, one of those nights where it feels like you simply blinked and it was suddenly morning?

[@Vault-TecOffical]

"I am am, I think therefore... I am."

[@crossby75th88]

Who's seeing this because of "I have no mouth and I must scream"?

[@blackrose9803]

Woahh ur cooking

[@sausage-gobbler5392]

Looking for this coment

[@bryceferguson8409]

Yessir

[@yoloswagprobro8227]

Not i

[@MissFazzington]

?

[@JohnnyHofmann]

Coffee is brewing, day off work, new Cosmic Skeptic video. Life is good.

[@KrwiomoczBogurodzicy]

No it isn't. Someone must have missed the David Benatar episode.

[@akamahmad3129]

I prepared tea and had sunflowers to enjoy as well. Alex is such a treat.

[@Adam-gl1qv]

Or you're living in a simulation and none of that is actually happening, either way - sounds like heaven.

[@akamahmad3129]

@@Adam-gl1qv yeah but what if he was thinking though?

[@TheSkullConfernece]

James Holden relatability.

[@luv4bugz]

As saying you changed the trajectory of my life may be a little too much of an overstatement, I’ll just admit the content you create has throughly impacted every aspect of the way I perceive my surroundings and express my interests. Your videos have deepened the way I analyze and process any input I receive. Finding your channel truly has been what I needed to further define what person I want to become and what paths do I want to follow when I become and adult. Thank you so much Alex!

[@ichbinnasrin]

I share your exact sentiments! Alex just really has helped established the ability to perceive things differently and just to simply think more-something we forget to do sometimes.

[@celine9322]

Fantastic!

[@xadielplasencia3674]

I think ist not an understatement in my case, discovering Alex definetly change my perspective in live entirely

[@crystalgiddens7276]

you should try shrooms

[@mr.dalerobinson]

@@crystalgiddens7276 shrooms are better if you have a good mental foundation. For effective training as a neuronaut, I like to think well before I go on a spirit walk. Don’t just rely on the substance, be in the right frame of mind first. Drugs are wasted on the young.

[@egeo9979]

Fun fact: The translation in Turkish is: “Düşünüyorum, öyleyse varım” which in English translates into “I am thinking, therefore i exist”

[@ciige6967]

Seeing as my native language is German, which does not have a Continuous Present or equivalent, and having always understood the Cogito in this way anyways, this video has once again shown me the importance of clearly defined language, not only of course, but especially in discussion of thought. Thank you very much, for providing a fascinating new perspective, great video, keep it up!

[@critterpher]

genau!

[@gytoser801]

@@critterpher you wrote this after a year

[@critterpher]

@@gytoser801 well i only now saw this video

[@MM-KunstUndWahrheit]

​@@critterpherbro you conquered that german thing

[@charlessoukup1111]

A very key observation! Our native language teaches us How to think...frame thoughts!

[@RandomHuman4022]

"I think, therefore I am" and the meditations were the first things I got taught in my first A level philosophy lesson, and I knew I was going to love the subject immediately.

[@vinnymac4668]

...What do you mean by "I"?

[@MrRANTBOY]

@@vinnymac4668 ...What do you mean by "you"?

[@vinnymac4668]

@@MrRANTBOY ...Whatever @Reece's definition is, since @Reece is the one using the term axiomatically. So far, @Reece is stumped. Incidentally, what do you mean by "mean"?

[@RandomHuman4022]

@@vinnymac4668 oh no, I'm having the same existential crisis all over again.

[@vinnymac4668]

@@RandomHuman4022 ...The most important thing to realise is that nobody really "knows" anything with 100% certainty...and they never have. Western philosophy has the _a priori_ assumption that _faith is a form of knowledge -- a sub form._ However: knowledge is a form of faith...an objectively determined one...but one which is easily broken down by the old Buddhist/radical objectivism chestnut "when is a cart not a cart?" "Reality" is faith-based.

[@gamingdiscipline5425]

This is exactly what we need more of! Can you do David Hume or Kant's most famous works next?

[@efont81]

Yes and B.Russell please.

[@martiddy]

I support both topics

[@thefourshowflip]

David Hume is comparatively easy to read (especially in contrast to someone like Kant). The most famous for Hume is probably Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. For a casual read, I’d recommend the website “early-modern texts” but the full book of the Enquiry is available anywhere as pdf and while it will take some time to get through (it’s pretty dense), it’s relatively straightforward. The most important parts are chapters 1-8 (where he sets up things like Humes fork and the problem of induction/whether causality is knowable)

[@JCMcGee]

Yeah.....you MUST do the Categorical Imperative.

[@floepiejane]

@@JCMcGee And the bundle

[@laurastormgarcia4353]

I remember my Father reading the book you’re referring to after his first heart attack at age 37. I was awestruck when he quoted “I think, therefore, I am,” to me, when he began meditation and yoga, after his triple bypass open-heart surgery, in 1975. These words put together made absolute sense to me. OF COURSE! I THINK, THEREFORE I AM! Brilliant!!! For a 13-year old girl at the time … and a freshman in high school, I had absorbed these words and resonated with them, of not knowing why, until much later. Your discussion and your concise explanation of the subject matter is simply stated for my 61 yr. old mind to understand 😉, and absolutely fascinating! Thank you!

[@sandre_sandre]

Great explanation thanks! Reminds me one of the gems that can be found in the french comics Astérix (making a pun between "je suis" = "I am" and "je suis" = "I am following"): Astérix and Obélix want to enter a roman fort, but they must give a password (which is "cogito ergo sum", but Astérix can't remember it). Astérix: "do you remember [the password]?" Obélix: "You know, foreign languages and me... And after all, YOU are thinking, I am following." (in French: "Oh, tu sais, moi, les langues étrangères… Et puis, toi tu penses, moi je suis.") Brilliant!

[@arghvl7141]

d ko gets

[@coling8176]

When I was at school there was a cartoon picture of a man walking behind a donkey followed by the words “Je suis que je suis mais je ne suis pas que je suis ! “

[@veronica_sawyer_1989]

Astérix et Obelix toujours avec les meilleurs blagues

[@veronica_sawyer_1989]

@@coling8176 small correction: "Je suis ce que je suis mais je ne suis pas ce que je suis"

[@truth5705]

it means "I think therefore I am", but in buddhist terms, it could be more "I think, therefor the idea of me exists", and if we stop thinking the idea of being seperate from everything else breaks down and we feel apart of something bigger

[@APaleDot]

Whether you are an isolated individual or the entire universe, you are still thinking, so you exist in some form.

[@bike4aday]

Exactly. "I am" is as far as one can go. It doesn't prove "I am separate from the thought". So, if there is a thought and there is I then I must be the thought. But the thought passes away the moment it arises, so it is empty. And when we try to recreate a separate self every moment it becomes awfully jarring and annoying. And when we see these characteristics of impermanence, no-self, and suffering clearly and directly, we rejoice in fruition.

[@etherealstars5766]

This reminds me of the Ship of Theseus. As we go through life, we continuously change, but at any one moment, we feel like we are not changing in a significant sense. This is because our memories serve as a comparison of who we were to who we are now. So it seems, at any one moment, we are not the person we used to be, in thought. So, is the previous person continuously dying? This seems to match up perfectly with the scientific analysis of the human brain which is subjected to causality. It seems like we are simply emotional machines and our thought processes are completely determined by our substrate of memories and our channels of common thoughts and values. We are not dying at every moment because our thoughts are not us. Our thoughts change and we change. But our constituent parts are us. Everything our brain takes in. This makes us insepperable from the people and universe around us, including the laws that govern everything, while making us uniquely different.

[@daviddeida]

Yes.I am therefore I think.More accurate is ,I am therefore thinking.Does thought define ones existence ?.No.Thought is descriptive.Does one think ?.or thoughts appear and one claims authorship of the thought.

[@TheAndreas1008]

But wouldn't we then assume the existence of an enterior world whether we view ourselves as separate og a part of it? But I like the phrasing "the idea of me" although I'm not much of either a Buddhist or a Platonist, but it captures the detail that I exist under "some form" and nothing more can be known for sure.

[@afreenjamal4045]

I watched your videos when I got married. I got separated 5 months after I got married and I continue to watch your videos during my divorce proceedings. Turns out I had a longer relationship with your KZbin channel than I had with my abusive ex husband. Still, I discussed some of your videos with him and it's nostalgic. Cheers!! Edit: Getting abused and divorced at 26 gives you a weird understanding of the world.

[@smilloww2095]

Damn

[@LevelJoy]

Hope you're doing better and the divorce (although never easy) isn't too rocky 💚

[@dohpam1ne]

Alex "Mr. Steal Yo Wife" O'Connor

[@afreenjamal4045]

@@LevelJoy Well he was emotionally, verbally and physically abusive. And now he's on sort of some smear campaign to tarnish my reputation. All this after I loved him with all my heart and soul.

[@hasnainkhan7338]

@@afreenjamal4045 holy cow this is..... depressing

[@Katiekato]

I never realized until now, that your channel and the way you speak, rationalize and build arguments has been a major reason why I got into studying philosophy. Thank you so much for your amazing work! It has brought so much positive change into my life!

[@gustavocunha1783]

Great vídeo Alex. I do believe that KZbin needs more videos like this. Philosophical discussions presented in a objective and understanding manner. I'm Brazilian and a subscriber for years, keep up the good work!

[@eoghan.5003]

This was great! More of this kind - exploring central ideas in different philosophical issues, looking at different philosophers - would be really interesting!

[@StdDev99]

Descartes also came up with the Cartesian coordinates system. Without that we wouldn't have had videos. So thanks to him for the existence of KZbin.

[@earthman4222]

Bet someone would have come up with it by now. Do ya think?

[@StdDev99]

@@earthman4222 For sure. And in our timeline/universe it was Descartes. Still gets a credit.

[@haylemelekotallelgn2218]

KZbin exists because KZbin Cogitos

[@EAparodies]

You have such a way of explaining complex ideas in a simple way so a wide variety of people can understand. I'm glad you share this knowledge on youtube

[@SuperLifestream]

I dont know how "I think therefore, I am" would be perceived if in the perspective of a baby or an animal. Self awareness verses instinct

[@cybergrail]

You have a truly wonderful ability to dig into deep subjects while introducing the foundational concepts behind the discussion without any hint of arrogance. Great job. Thank you.

[@dVTHoR]

The inability to doubt something isn’t a basis for truth, but the inability to specifically doubt your own existence or “if you’re thinking” is. The emphasis should be put not on the doubting or the thinking but on the logical inconsistency brought about by the specific relationship of the two.

[@lukrassful]

Language is an interesting thing. In German you say “ich denke, also bin ich” which is pretty mich the same as cogito ergo sum. There is no difference in the present form but just the one existing. So the interpretation cannot get lost in translation, but rather in the interpretation itself

[@gregwarrener4848]

yes, alex is not trying to claim that it was directly mistranslated. He is saying that because of the context about how history can always be doubted, the quote may need a more appropriate rephrasing.

[@celine9322]

A lot of philosophy deals with semantics it seems, not just ideas about the world/ourselves. So I guess it can help you get a better grip on language as well, which is good in itself :)

[@kartoffeldrucker]

the german version is prone to the same (mis)interpretation described in the video

[@filipavilela769]

@@gregwarrener4848 A more appropriate rephrasing even in the original language? In French "I'm thinking" is more like "Je suis en train de penser..." (I'm in the process of thought)

[@gregwarrener4848]

@@filipavilela769 That makes sense

[@perpetual_suffering1458]

Bro this video style SLAPPED. Please do more of these type

[@krabman6297]

I am therefore I think

[@astaroth596]

i hope my teacher doesnt find this

[@thewirisM]

relatable hope the speech/essay hits

[@southyonko6455]

Me being a teacher finding this :🗿

[@mirzasady]

I have read a lot on this specific topic. You explain this in 20 mins with such clarity. It is impressive is an understatement.

[@heradsinn]

The production quality of this video is absolutely amazing

[@bariumselenided5152]

This was really fun! I’ve always loved what I guess is called the cogito, it always seemed so obvious and unassailable. It’s cool to see that it isn’t quite what I expected. I especially liked hearing about the thinking that led Descartes to it. Idk if there’s enough material out there for this, but if you had a series explaining widely recognized but little understood philosophy tidbits, I’d watch every episode, no doubt

[@peterhill1998]

Great video, loving the "explained" format, needs to become a series and playlist 👍🏼

[@tazziiieee]

Dude I am an atheist ex-muslim from India,I have watching you frequently since 2019.You was among the first people that convinced me to become atheist and vegan.You have a deep and profound impact and influence on my life.I wish I could financially support you but I am just a student ATM :/ ,I will surely do this in the future.Please continue to make videos like these on prominent historical figures like Descartes and Galilei.I am also missing some of your old content such as Podcasts and debunk1ng arguments for the existence of god and calling out religious stup1dity.Absolutely love you and your videos and will continue to watch them.As always..keep up the good work man ;) 👍

[@Ahmed-ef6ss]

Me too. An agnostic atheist ex-muslim from India. Cosmicskeptic helped me a lot as well.

[@tazziiieee]

@@Ahmed-ef6ss that's great man

[@sanskritikapoor337]

It's so good to see more Indians like me, supporting him, hi guys🙌

[@danishsamir8807]

I've been watching him since 2018. Although I started watching rationality rules in 2019, too

[@5minutecalms]

Hey! I'm also Hindu from India.. Love this guy!

[@devinboudreaux1067]

Really love this format. keep up the good work.

[@francisconeves9055]

Thank you for this amazing video Alex! Can you please do more of this? Would really help with bringing philosophy to a broader audience

[@StevenWalkerOfficial]

This is probably the best video on Descartes philosophy I have seen in KZbin. You should definitely do more.

[@apockylypse101]

I have no mouth and I must scream reference

[@sausage-gobbler5392]

Looking for this coment

[@johneser]

Alex, this is certainly one of your best, if not the best, videos you've put out. Absolutely loved every second of it while also coming to many revelations. Thanks for this.

[@ChrisWillx]

Ma boi's back!! Missed u

[@CurtisWal]

Man chris, I bet if you commented anything on one of Alex's videos today vs this comment 2 years ago, you'd get a whole hell of a lot more than 21 likes. Congrats on your success, well deserved!

[@senkuishigami2485]

Alex We Need a series like this

[@MajesticMasiakasaurus]

This was a simply fantastic video, Alex! Incredibly fascinating. I'd eat up this kind of content all day everyday.

[@youssefabid1034]

We definitely need more of this, especially a deeper exploration of what self is according to different philosophers. Such as Spinoza and Mirloponti or Hegel or Sartre. Maybe even Freud and his theory of personality. I think all of these subjects and many more would make for extremely interesting videos like this one and act like follow ups to it.

[@x.pillsnraz0rblades.x]

Perfect timing. I've been reading the book Sophie's World and I just completed the chapter describing Descartes' philosophy. This video acted as a review of my reading. Thank you.

[@sanamir9886]

Sophie’s world is my favourite book of all times 😭

[@vividesiles3763]

Reminded me of my philosophy class in high school.(had 7 hours a week, ugh) We did review this sentence. We saw it in French because I'm French (obviously 😅) but seeing your take on it and in english is very interesting . I'm French and even in french I sometimes don't get everything. Plus in philosophy class it's easier to follow if you know latin. Which I don't. You refreshed my thought about the sentence because I'd forgotten everything in 3 years🌺

[@Lis-oh1sq]

To me this guy explains concepts in a such clear way that I finally understand them. I don't get how google or textbooks can't do that. Also, these videos are hella interesting, thank you for them!

[@Mo95793]

Please more philosophy explanations. I love this format

[@zaharabliss106]

I love your videoes it really got me into appreciating philosophy and improving my meta-cognitive skills. It also helps to sound smarter at 16 but still more importantly I just really appreciate this. It's wild how much I've learned over these past few years with your videos and others and one day I hope to be as informed or a little bit close to you someday. I suppose I'm starting the new year right with this.

[@theclosetedplantlover5524]

When the school systems generally don’t promote critical thinking for us ( I’m 15 ) it’s amazing to still be able to develop our critical thinking skills online with great creators like him

[@zaharabliss106]

@@theclosetedplantlover5524 yeah it kinda sucks how I feel like I was just taught to obey authority, trust that adults knew better than you on virtue of age and somehow it was our faults that we didn't think critically enough even though a proper foundation was never properly laid. I'm glad we both had the fortune of discovering these sort of things.

[@theclosetedplantlover5524]

@@neophilus9821 care to elaborate

[@theclosetedplantlover5524]

@@zaharabliss106 idk were you’re at so can’t say for sure but I am in southern (texas) USA so I think I know what you mean lol. Lots and lots of fear mongering around belief systems were I’m at

[@neophilus9821]

@@theclosetedplantlover5524 For some reason KZbin is deleting my comments So basically, I'm an ex atheist who used to watch cosmicskeptic/anti religious videos along with arguing about religious stuff with random people Until one day i met some guys who are studying islamic philosophy, they taught me a lot of things and changed my ideas If you're interested enough i can tell you about their arguments, the problem is that they are in Arabic so it'll be hard to translate them, I'll try my best though.

[@JohnnyHofmann]

I loved this video so much. I’d love more of these type videos (:

[@sekateksekate]

Big up Cosmic Skeptic for always going back to these folks who explore there thought process. It's always fascinating me to take down memory lane of these philosophers, thinkers. These depicts the complexity and hugenes of life. We as humans are contagent entities. Our existencial struggles are real to make life coherence and meaningful. Oh what life we live in, what a tym to live man. Grace and peace

[@r-pupz7032]

Smooooth transition :D Awesome video!

[@notkamara]

Great video Alex :) Its always the simple questions in life that have the most complex of answers.

[@filipevilasboas314]

I've been watching your videos for a long time now, since i always loved philosophy, and finally i was able to start my bachelor degree in philosophy on the University of São Paulo. I'm reading Descartes this semester, and this video really helped as support to understanding his philosophy. Thx for everything Alex, i love your content, and was really really happy when you became vegan haha

[@TairasFamily]

Obsessed with your content!

[@anthonyhind1308]

Really enjoyed this.I'd love to see more of this type of content.

[@ARKGAMING]

I have my philosophy finals soon and even though we've gone over Descartes only a few weeks ago I always find that I get a better understanding when I listen to you or Stephen(Rationality Rules) talk about a topic. So great timing, hope to learn something. Edit: I misspelled Descartes ☠️

[@GrrMania]

This is a very well made and thought-provoking video, Alex. Thanks!

[@stylis666]

Yeah it really is and I came to the conclusion that the video could be summed up with: instinct is a thing and thinking proves existence of a thinker. So thought provoZzZZzzz....

[@CarpenterBrother]

Loved the background music, fitted well.

[@michaelmather8694]

Fantastic. The best short explanation of the Cogito I have ever heard.

[@beluga2841]

please continue this series with other such philosophical propositions and ideas

[@lewismurphy1562]

If ever I need to get my brain engaged and change from a lethargic attitude to a productive one, I always check in with this channel. Cheers for getting me on track Alex. Keep up the good work!

[@CGKey]

I really enjoy these kinds of videos! Keep up the good work

[@nerdy4172]

That was incredibly worthwhile. Thank you

[@speakersr-lyefaudio6830]

I love this stuff, please do more like it.

[@siegbertpseudo8046]

18:48 Although one can doubt the Cogito. Nietzsche said in Beyond good and evil that you can't think anything. Only something thinks. The thoughts arise from themselves and you yourself can't think. Somethings thinks and Descartes proposed that this something is you or I. Nietzsche thinks that this thought comes from the grammatical structure of the French and other languages. The predicats is "thinking" and therefore this sentence has to have a subject: something or I. And furthermore even to say that something thinks is not true because it's an observation. You observe that something thinks before you can say that it thinks. I think that's maybe the point of language in itself... So you can even doubt the Cogito in that form.

[@logan666]

If neurobiology is correct, and there is latency between sensory inputs and cognition, we could be both the subject and observer. In this case (I think I think, therefore I am) the cogito would be a chance occurrence.

[@siegbertpseudo8046]

@@logan666 Well I think Nietzsche's point here is that you, the one who says this statement (the cogito), is the observer and since observations can't be trusted you can't make this observation with certainty. And furthermore, to say that this observer is congruent with the thing which gives rise to the thoughts you're perceiving is a major implicit assumption which isn't discussed. It's the one that you're making in your reply, too. And he also writes that this assumption is implicit in the grammatical structure of the French and many other languages. (I wonder what Chomsky would say about this...)

[@logan666]

@@siegbertpseudo8046 I agree! By “chance occurrence” I was meaning a being thinking about the cogito could be driven by natural perception (I.e. materialism). So thinking in itself as stated in the grammar of the cogito is actually observing.

[@abdulrahmanalhamali1707]

Great summary! I'm looking forward to another video about infalibility vs indoubility vs incorrigibility

[@strider_hiryu850]

excellent video Alex. smashed it out of the park.

[@nickman9639]

Really appreciate the well researched and thought out video.

[@vakusdrake3224]

There's a subtle problem in how the The Cogito is generally presented that you didn't address: The fact you observe thoughts *only means you exist as an observer* not that you are thinking. One might be a mindless entity incapable of thought, which simply reads the thoughts of others and misattributes their origins.

[@daviddeida]

I am ,therefore I think.

[@Christian-mn8dh]

I am aware, therefore I am

[@nintendorocks1]

If you only exist as an observer, you exist nonetheless.

[@henryginn7490]

Absolutely fantastic video, definitely one of your stronger ones. It’s topics like these that I couldn’t even trust other high quality youtubers such as Rationality Rules to do justice, but as expected, you delivered. This truly is KZbin philosophy at it’s best. I’ve been troubled by cogito ergo sum for a while, as I was interpreting it as a syllogism, so if you don’t accept the law of non contradiction then it doesn’t hold. You’ve given me more to think about now.

[@ivanjankovic3494]

Very well made, I actually learned something from this, thank you for making this video.

[@bidonbidon7463]

Indeed, as a French speaker, the context has always made me understand “je pense donc je suis” as meaning “I am thinking therefore I am”. In French, to be precise, we should say something like "Je suis en train de penser donc je suis" but the context allows "Je pense" to express the same idea.

[@Hyper_TheOne]

Cogito ergo sum, I think therefore I am A.M.

[@lawrencematthews6221]

Exquisitely explained and genuinely insightful

[@ichbineinsweep]

Thanks Alex, I really enjoyed this.

[@philipmathew7940]

Please do more videos like this

[@DrexisEbon]

I personally prefer the translation "Only while I am thinking about my thinking do I know that I exist." It lightly implies that engaging with philosophy is living - which I find to be an incredibly empowering message. The idea that being human is being able to think about thinking I at least find pretty powerful. It would also give cause to think of "non-philosophers" as "non-agents" however and that may result sympathy towords actions resulting is some pretty gruesome outcomes. It's really unfortunate that ideas like this could be twisted towords despicable ends, but they seriously could be.

[@matteo-ciaramitaro]

To know you exist you have to be doubting whether you exist, but to exist and not have that knowledge, you merely have to think

[@gregwarrener4848]

Are you implying that homo sapiens that don't use meta cognition are not human?

[@MrAdamo]

im pretty sure other animals can engage in metacognition

[@dajolaw]

I have difficulty with this idea for two reasons: 1) one cannot spend every moment thinking about how you think, which would suggest that proof of your existence is ephemeral to only the moments you think about thinking; and 2) it suggest that only philosophers are capable of truly existing, which, coming from a philosopher, seems to be self-celebratory. #2 is similar to some physicists who suggest that human consciousness is the universe's way of knowing itself...which of course makes studying physics the apotheosis of human cognitive activity. It's a kind of professional ego-stroking that I immediately recoil from.

[@gregwarrener4848]

@@dajolaw i agree, just because the only time you can be certain of your existence is when you are using meta cognition, does not mean you do not exist when you are not thinking about your thinking.

[@josephtaylor4405]

This is great! Keep finding ways to make us 'think'.

[@abdullahharoun6680]

This one was very informative, great video, as always.

[@chomskysarmy3965]

I've never studied Descartes or his commentators, but I anticipated the subtley different translation. I felt clever at first until I realised Alex led me there with the clarity of his essay/introduction to the subject.

[@alexandertownsend3291]

If you want the source material, youtube has an audiobook of the meditations, also there are a bunch of places you can get an ebook of the meditations.

[@Dhruv-_-0.]

Then I shouldn't be.

[@maomao180]

Please do more of these!

[@gustavoarangob.974]

Thank you very much for the video, it was very illustrative regarding Descartes' contributions, especially for someone who does not know much about philosophy

[@Pjvenom1985]

Really enjoyed this fair play Alex, think it might be worthwhile to make a video on Al-Ma'arri or perhaps even nods to Socrates/Da Vinci's Pro Ethical Vegetarianism(Vegan nowadays) stances etc.🍀

[@yowter8265]

Whenever I experience a bad trip from taking psychedelics, which makes me think that I have opened another dimension and gives me an existential crisis or sleep paralysis, I always turn to this line: "I think, therefore I am." It works every time by lessening my anxiety.

[@mihaleben6051]

Wha Just dont... Instead. Get a furry fetish. Its the same. But less dangerous to your body

[@littlehouseinthebigapple5716]

Boy I could’ve used this vid two semesters ago! But still very useful! I love this breakdown. 🙌🏼

[@WithASideOfFries]

So well made and easily understandable. Well done.

[@maturecheese9688]

I prefer "I am thinking, therefore I am am-ing"

[@2Hesiod]

I am consciousness.

[@vivekkaplingat6384]

Great video, Alex!

[@KitGW]

Really fascinating topic. This has always been one of my favourite little philosophical nuggets.

[@eedobee]

I exist when I’m thinking.

[@kamaluddinkamal1153]

I exist even when not thinking...😂

[@headshotTV-]

Cogito ergo sum

[@KaworuFemboy]

I THINK, THEREFORE I AM A.M

[@headshotTV-]

@@KaworuFemboy I A.M

[@Wingedmagician]

Loved this. Hope for more straight up philosophy videos like this.

[@akirah1987]

Hey Alex! Your explanations are very clear and easy to understand. Keep up the good work. Would like to know your views on spirituality (especially eastern mystical traditions)..

[@ianbaez1998]

Alex seems to suggest that "epistemological certainty about X belief does not necessarily entail the truth of X belief." In other words, he seems open to the possibility that "certainty does not confer truth." This is an absurd position to take. Consider the following: Presumably the assumption "certainty does not confer truth," is itself an assumption Alex is certain of, and yet by his own acknowledgement certainty does not necessarily entail veridicality (truth). Therefore, the very assumption "certainty does not confer truth" remains an open question as to whether it is true itself. Put simply, if even absolute epistemological certainty (like I am thinking, therefore I am) cannot guarantee veridicality, then nothing can be known to be true including the very assumption that nothing can be known to be true--the position is self-defeating. Ultimately, the sentence "certainty does not confer truth," already presupposes that "truth" exists independent of its epistemological accessibility. But what, if anything, is "truth," other than that of which we are certain? What is deemed to be true we deem it because we are certain, and what we are certain of we can only be certain inasmuch as it is true. This all goes back to the fact that there can be no object (truth) without subject (epistemological accessibility/certainty).

[@peterleeson1122]

This is an interesting insight into Descartes. As always I really enjoy your videos. Maybe I am missing the point but I never understood why someone who was questioning everything made so many assumptions about thinkers from thought. Even if you wish to say it is an oxymoron to have a thought without a thinker, Descartes seems to conclude that a temporal sequence of doubts, or thoughts, refer back to a singular self, is that a big assumptions or am I not getting it.

[@countcatharsis]

I'm not sure if Descartes concluded there has to be a singular self, but I think you could easily reinterpret the statement to mean: I am thinking, therefore there is (thinking). Like Alex says: "[...] I know that I exist, at least in some form". The "I" in "I am" doesn't have to be the person doing the thinking or even a person at all (because the whole idea of "person" or "identity" could be an illusion of the demon), it just means something (that Descartes calls "I") is having an experience of thinking/doubting. Does that make sense? :)

[@peterleeson1122]

@@countcatharsis I think that is a good point. This is just a reflection on what you and Alex have mentioned. Because if this take on Descartes is correct, which seems to be the case, I am not sure how it is consistent with the way Descartes talks about I. The bit I grapple with is the way in which Descartes seems to conclude that the more the metaphorical demon makes me doubt, the greater proof of I. Further there is a temporal sequence to it. There is a part in the meditations where talks about having a sequence of doubt but that this just re-affirms his trust in the existence of I. What happen if the demon is way more devious than Descartes thought? There was only ever one doubt or thought but it contains false memories of numerous previous thoughts or doubts. I think we are the same page here, just not sure how it squares with the rest of Descartes work.

[@alexandertownsend3291]

That is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Descartes's errors. Even if everything about the cogito was perfect, the meditations fall apart not long after that. After the cogito, he tries to thwart the evil demon and fails miserably. He makes so many leaps of logic, especially when trying to prove god's existence (something Descartes deemed necessary to vanquish the demon). If he wanted to, Cosmic Skeptic could eadily make 3 or 4 follow up videos to this. There are 6 meditations in total to talk about. He lightly touched on 2 and 3. Meditations 4 through 6 weren't even discussed.

[@abrahamkim2304]

​@@peterleeson1122 Good questions. If you reference the original text (I'm not sure which translation you're referencing, but they're not all equal) Descartes really concludes that in order for the demon to fool you, you must exist in the first place. How would anything fool you if you didn't exist? It therefore wouldn't matter how powerful or devious the demon is, because in order to be deceived, you must exist. Could you reference the part of the text where he says "more the demon makes me doubt, the greater the proof of I"? And what is the "sequence of doubt" you're mentioning, because he mentions quite a few doubts.

[@countcatharsis]

@@peterleeson1122 "There was only ever one doubt or thought but it contains false memories of numerous previous thoughts or doubts." --> But isn't this just the same thing as before, just with a few more steps? In order for false memories to exist, there has to be something that can have those false memories. Like Abraham Kim says: it doesn't matter how powerful the demon is, there is always something being deceived by the demon.

[@LilacZ373]

Just getting into philosophy, Your video broke this down so simply. Well done 👌🏾

[@ericvanjames8395]

Fascinating, profoundly thought-provoking video. Thank you!

[@louissivo9660]

I added my own twist to Descartes' thought as I learned more about the question of, are we really conscious or do we have free will? My twist is, "I think, I think; therefore I question if I am." I ask myself, am I really thinking or is it some sort of illusion by a portion of my mind? With that I wonder, am I truly a being with free will and consciousness? Note, I don't doubt the original question of if "I am." I'm pretty sure I'm here in some form. But the question now is, to what level am I? Maybe I'm a simple ant-like being thinking that this hive/city of ours proves we are a wonder. But maybe it's all programmed instinct and humans are just little bugs. Your channel is why I can't fall asleep easily at night. My mind just goes around and around. Lol.

[@truth5705]

It's like "I think, therefore I exist" but then Heidegger asked an even more insightful question: "What is existence?" it's so good, love it

[@untitled9693]

And Post-structuralists then question the "I"

[@davl7384]

@@untitled9693 wait until we question the "?"....

[@samuellchacon1442]

He asked what is existence but through the question of being. What is the meaning of being, he asks. But in order to do this one needs to start with asking: What is this being that is asking questions about being? This, Heidegger means, must be asked through the deep analysis of Being-in-the-world. Heidegger is an amazing philosopher and made me think a lot. One can see his magnus opus Being and Time, to be a critic of the whole philosophical tradition.

[@crisgon9552]

Then you have to read Ludwig Wittgenstein and realize that language is the barrier. We are trying to say the unsayable by playing these language games. Philosophy is great nourishment for the soul.

[@abrahamkim2304]

Descartes and many people before him all the way back to Plato and Aristotle asked "what is existence" and they're really the fathers of metaphysics. Even Leibniz and others recently after Descartes builds on his work on the nature of existence.

[@gwickle1685]

Very well done. Food for thoughts. Thanks

[@ryvyr]

Thank you kindly for the time taken to distil this at length, as well placing non-adsense sponsorship at front/back/both where I recognize the mutually consideration and therefor watch rather than skip past :>

[@cerwile1]

I think, therefore thinking is. An "I" isn't that easy to establish. Conciousness doesn't imply a self.

[@daviddeida]

I am therefore thinking.

[@cerwile1]

@@daviddeida I don't think it's even Descartes' point to prove an "I". The point of the cogito is to prove ANYTHING in the face of total skepticism, and what it proves is that thinking must exist. That we cannot doubt. My point is that we can still doubt whether this thinking implies a subject, a thinking self. The cogito proves only that thinking is, and therefore that something undoubtable exists. Whether this something implies a self is still doubtable, and therefore the cogito doesn't prove a "self" beyond any doubt. I can still doubt it.

[@daviddeida]

@@cerwile1I am going with the dictionary definition of Cognito " the principle establishing the existence of a being from the fact of its thinking or awareness".I agree thinking does not prove a self ,nor does it prove a thinker.Maybe thats where I misunderstood.It seemed to me "I think therefore I am "implies a thinker, that ones identity is bound by thought,which is gross.hence my re frame.In my experience thoughts appear without my volition.So yes the awareness of thought implies there is an awareness and that is all.