Cogito

The one thing people are sure to know about Descartes—who know anything about him at all—is that he said (approximately), “I think, therefore I am.”Therefore, it is ironic that Descartes was not the first to say this. Consider the following:…I am most certain that I am and that I know and delight in this. In respect of these truths, I am not at all afraid of the arguments of the Academicians [i.e., skeptic philosophers], who say, “What if you are deceived?” For if I am deceived, I am. For he who is not, cannot be deceived; and if I am deceived, by this same token, I am. And since I am if I am deceived, how am I deceived in believing that I am? for it is certain that I am if I am deceived. Since, therefore, I, the person deceived, should be, even if I were deceived, certainly I am not deceived in this knowledge that I am.This passage is from St. Augustine’s City of God (XI.26).
-- Davit Pott, dated 2015-
Cogito, ego sum
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Psyche; Thinker; Witness
Cognitive; Cogent
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