Descartes’ Quotes & Lessons Learned

We learn from those male and female ancestors and use their theories to doubt, and enhance understanding.

René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist in Ancient times. He & associate is famous for the skeptical method of doubt, which he used to question everything he thought he knew to find a foundation for certain knowledge. Descartes' most famous statement is "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am").

René Descartes wasn't known for writing a large volume of books, but his ideas were highly influential. Here's a breakdown of his key works and some famous quotes:

Descartes’s famous quote was: "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"). It expresses the idea that the very act of doubting one's own existence proves that one must exist as a thinking thing. So as intelligent human beings, we should ponder deeper about ourselves, who are we, where we come from, and how about our consciousness, subconsciousness, unconsciousness, or superconsciousness. What we know about ourselves is only the tip of the iceberg.

"Doubt is the origin of wisdom.": This quote highlights Descartes' emphasis on questioning important things, and seeking clear and distinct knowledge. Doubt like conscience is a regulator of our mind: A doubtful mind has its positive side, it is our natural endowment to create, to invent, and to change. If doubt is a brief precursor that stimulates questioning and learning then it is a positive state of mind. When doubt turns to overly self-doubt and begins to erode one's self-confidence, then it is a negative state of mind.

The quote: "The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues," reflects Descartes' belief in the power of human reason, but also acknowledges the potential for its misuse. We are all individuals with different grades of humanness.

The profundity in thinking at the philosophical level helps people develop virtues like non-egoism, tolerance, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, uprightness, gratitude, etc.

"To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them": This quote expresses Descartes' belief that philosophical inquiry is essential for understanding ourselves and the world around us. The quintessential of Philosophy is the history of ideas and an ongoing inquiry into the nature of things based on abstract reasoning. Philosophy is the discipline of seeing beyond the visible, understanding things underneath the surface, in pursuit of wisdom.

"The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest men of past centuries.": This quote reflects Descartes' appreciation for learning from the ideas of collective wisdom. Learning is a journey; on one side you learn from others; on the other side, you doubt, challenging common beliefs. Seasoned persons in life become aware when some of the long-acquired knowledge is no longer applicable in certain situations. You have learned to no longer apply that knowledge in those specific cases. So learn, delearn, and relearn all the time.

Descartes' writings and ideas continue to be studied and debated by philosophers today. We learn from those male and female ancestors and use their theories to doubt, and enhance understanding. It’s also important to leverage advanced technology and methodology to break down outdated knowledge and tradition, generate common values and virtues, and advance humanity.

Posted in: Food for Thought,Learning,Profundity