descarte

Rene Descartes, 1596-1650

[|wikipedia entry] [|internet encyclopedia of philosophy entry]

two big ideas 1. a method of hyperbolic doubt 2. the argument that, though he may doubt, he cannot doubt that he exists

In the search for a foundation for philosophy, whatever could be doubted must be rejected But, very little remains, only the simple fact of doubting itself, and the inescapable inference that something exists doubting, namely Descartes himself

His most famous statement is //[|Cogito ergo sum]// ([|French]: //Je pense, donc je suis// or in [|English]: I think, therefore I am//), found in §7 of// Principles of Philosophy //(Latin) and part IV of// Discourse on Method //(French).//