Discourse on the Method Quotes

Context

In 1637, René Descartes was on the brink of not existing.

He was musing on a few things—namely, how other people are wrong (we hear ya, René). That made him think that, huh, if they're wrong, it's likely that he could be wrong, too. Another thing on his mind? Dreams. When we're dreaming, everything seems real…which means that our senses might not be great detectors for whether or not things actually exist.

Bottom line: he was doubting not only the existence of everything he ever knew, but also his own existence. And so: je pense, donc je suis came to be. (Yeah, that's the original French version that more accurately translates to "I am thinking, therefore I exist"—doesn't quite have the same ring, we guess.)

So what does it mean?

Descartes realized that the very fact he was doubting his existence was evidence that he actually did exist. He figured that, with all the inherent uncertainty in human experience, this was one foundational principle that everyone could accept.

Of course, as is the nature of philosophy, plenty of people didn't want to accept it. They thought Descartes' idea seemed to assume a few things, like that there's an "I" who's doing the thinking. Have you ever tried to assume something around a group of philsophers? Yeah, it ain't gonna fly.

Where you've heard it

Despite its philosophical weight, this quote is nice and simple, so people love to throw it around. "I __________, therefore I am" has become a commonplace mantra, and it's often used to look down upon whatever that blank is, especially by people who consider technology to be the downfall of Western civilization.

Don't believe us? Take a look at this or this or this or this or this.

Actually, ignore that last one. We're not entirely sure what's happening there.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Asserting your own existence through the presence of your cognitive ability? Get off your high horse.