PHILO-120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Cogito Ergo Sum, Mental Substance, Bertrand Russell
17 Sep 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
This refers to: archimedes, greek mathematician, who is meant to have claimed that he could lift the earth off its foundation if he were given a place to stand, one solid point, and a long enough lever. From this stage onwards, d hopes to be able to construct a series of known truths, indeed a complete metaphysics. The argument: my existence follows from my thinking: i think, therefore i am (cogito ergo sum: the ergo" of therefore" marks the drawing of a conclusion. The nature of the i that necessarily exists is elucidated: by subjecting preconceived beliefs to doubt. And doubting is a variety of thinking: d is showing an internal contradiction in the position of the sceptic when asserts that by doubting everything. (ex: thinking about everything) he is uncommitted to all beliefs. Famous thinkers who have discussed a version of this include bertrand russell (1872-1970) and bernard williams(1929- But i"m not certain that i have a body.
