17th Century Descartes in 21st Century Words

The “Meditations on First Philosophy” , one of the most influential works ever written, was published by René Descartes in 1641. But questions he poses and the doubts he expresses are relevant to this day. And the phrase “I think; therefore I am.” is widely known. Yet, scarcely the intention behind it is understood.

Let us then try to understand what Descartes meant exactly by this. To do so, we’ll step into his shoes, rethink his thoughts, but express them in words we would use today.

Meditation I — Things to doubt

I know that during my life, I heard a lot of false opinions but thought they were true. I based some doubtful things on those principles. I knew I needed to discard all those things. I needed to start from scratch, and ask myself — “Which of those things I take for granted are true?”. But I also knew that that was a huge task. One which needed a lot of wisdom. So I waited. Today, I’m finally ready and cannot delay any further.

It’s not my goal to prove that each of those former opinions is false. Even just one reason to doubt an opinion will cause me to reject it. I also won’t look at every single opinion I held. That would take forever. Instead, I’ll focus on the most basic principles. If I can’t be sure that these are true, then everything built on them must be rejected, too.

Everything I’ve ever thought to be true, I learned through my senses. My senses have misled me in the past.

Shouldn’t I distrust something which has even just once deceived me in the past? I’m not sure. While my senses have deceived me when looking at very small or faraway things, in most cases the information I get from my senses is undoubtedly true. How could I deny that I’m sitting here, by this fire, holding this piece of paper? If I did I would be called insane. I would be like those who believe they are kings when, in fact, they are poor. Or those who claim their bodies are made of glass!

Still, I must admit that I’m a man. Sometimes I fall asleep and dream of even more unrealistic things. Sometimes I dream of completely ordinary things — like sitting here, by this fire, holding this piece of paper. I’m sure that I’m awake now. I distinctly perceive everything around me. And yet, sometimes I think the same thing while sleeping. So how can I be sure that I’m not asleep?

I cannot be absolutely certain that I’m awake. So I’ll assume that I am dreaming.

Let’s assume that the motion of my head, the extension of my hands, and the closure of my eyes are nothing but mere illusions. That some things which we perceive may not be real. Either way, we must admit that anything we dream of has its basis in reality. Even when painters draw the most fantastical things they produce them through mixing and modifying the features of real-life animals. Furthermore, if we were to assume that somehow they are able to paint something completely new, they are still limited to the colors of reality.

Thus, perceived objects — whether real or dreamt — must be really existent. Or, at the very least, something more basic must exist which makes us perceive them.

Colors must exist to form paintings. Something must exist to form these images of things in our thoughts. Some things are universally true — whether I’m awake or dreaming. Two and three add up to five. A square has 4 sides.

But what if some evil genius is deceiving me even in those basic things.

What if this evil genius is so powerful as to make me imagine the heavens, the earth, colors, figures, and sounds. Anything external that I perceive could be a product of his deception taking advantage of my readiness to believe.

To counteract this evil genius, I will consider all these things to be illusions.

I will try to arrive at a knowledge of the truth while keeping this assumption. I may not be able to do so. But then, at least, I will keep this possible deception in mind.

Meditation II — knowing the mind not the body

Yesterday’s doubts are still on my mind, filling me with dread. Nonetheless, I know that these doubts are justified. They cannot discarded. But how can I find something which can not be doubted?

Maybe there is nothing certain. But then how could I be sure about that?

Who is putting these doubts — these thoughts — in my mind? Are they coming directly from me? Aren’t I something? I’m already assuming that there is no sky, no earth, and no bodies. Nothing exists.

But I cannot convince myself that I don’t exist.

I would still exist whether an evil genius was deceiving me or not. I would still exist whether anything else around me is real or not. In any case, I persuaded myself of something. Anytime I think “I am; I exist!”, it must be necessarily true. I may not know who I am — or what I am, but I know I am something. I clearly and distinctly perceive this to be true.

Cogito, ergo sum.