PHILOSOPHY - History: Descartes' Cogito Argument [HD]

"I think, therefore I am" - almost everyone has heard of René Descartes' famous cogito argument. But what is this argument about? What does it show, and why are so many philosophers excited about it - even today, more than 350 years after Descartes first presented this argument? In this Wireless Philosophy video, Stephan Schmid (Humboldt) explores these questions.

Help us caption & translate this video!

[johnwoods]

Philosophy Student: "Do I exist?"
Philosophy Professor: "Who's asking?"

[MangledMarionettes]

I read that a philosophy professor said once, “If you still have Cartesian-style doubts about how the physical could interact with the mental, then I suggest you buy a physical bottle of scotch, pour it down your physical throat, and wait to see if any mental changes take place.”

[springbok]

I’m not your friend, or anything damn. You think that you’re the man... I think therefore I am.

[maxwax]

I can say for 100% certainty I didn't brush my teeth this morning.

[RottenDoctorGonzo]

He should have replied, "I drink, therefore I am."

[africandaisy.]

This was very good and clear. Was he saying that it depends on the quality of thought?
Also, how would he answer: “How do you know you can trust your senses?”

[emo]

Descartes walks into a bar and drinks a beer . Bartender "Want another ? " . Descartes : " I think not" and suddenly disappears .

[BulentBasaran]

I love Descartes's proof and there is a simpler form using proof by contradiction:
Let us assume that we don't exist.
Given that assumption, we obtain: there should not be an assumption we can hold to be true (albeit temporarily). But, there is one. We just did assume it. Therefore we have a contradiction. There is only one premise we assumed to be true. And that led us to a nonsensical position. Therefore, we must accept that the premise must be false. Therefore, we know that it is not true that we don't exist. And that means that we know that we do exist.

In one proof, we got two facts, one epistemological, one metaphysical.

And there is not a single mention of "doubt" here.

The lesson to take away from all this is that when we are ready to follow our assumptions to their conclusions we always get to truths and certainty even if we start on the wrong foot!

That's the beauty of life. We can always learn more and more and we can stop and enjoy any moment we like.

Do stop often. Be still. And enjoy.

[BerryTheBnnuy]

I have a better version of the joke.
A horse goes into a bar and orders a pint.
The bartender says "you know, you're in here pretty often. Do you think you might be an alcoholic?"
The horse says "I don't think I am..." and promptly vanishes from existence.
See. This was a joke about Descartes' famous line from philosophy. "I think therefore I am." But If I had explained that before t he rest of the joke, it would have been putting Descartes before the horse.

[demelloOG]

What I totally miss here in this video is that Decartes was also looking for the proof that there is a greater intelligence, aka God.

[bentleymayes]

Am I reborn everyday as when i sleep i experience thoughtlessness. When the mind goes silent do I ceast to exist?

[ibizwhiz]

"cogito, ergo consume". This is the modern version of Descartes previous statement. "I Think Therefore I consume". (I said This)

[PhongVuocTran]

3:28 I think you invented the "MANS NOT HOT" song, or maybe .. Descartes did.

[kristofferabild]

Thanks. I am going to use this in my Philosphy Class in High School. :)

[mahmudabrori]

Hi, what is the software you used to make this presentation ?

[berendmulder]

was forced to watch this, still was able to enjoy it

[natiihere]

take a shot everytime the word "doubt" is said in this video

[reidthegreat]

Am I the only one who has had their brain broken by this vid-- Oh wait- Now I don't even know if it is a video!!!

[jonassamuel]

"i know that i know nothing, except that i think therefore i am"
;)




(and yes i am aware of the problematic origin of this pseudo quote, "i know that...")

[danieljrpeters]

There also exists people who don't think.