# Rene Descartes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164 "2000-07-28T05:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/1 "2000-07-28T05:54:39Z")
I think I remember reading somewhere that Rene Descartes’s famous quote, “I think, therefore I am” is actually incomplete-- that the real quote was “I think, therefore I am-- but I doubt it.” Which completely changes the meaning. Anybody know if this is true, and if it isn’t, where I might have heard that it was?(I’m thinking here, from someone like CKDextHaven) Thanks. –John ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/2 "2000-07-28T06:15:15Z")
I have no idea where you might have heard it, but it is incorrect. I refer you to ‘The Meditations’, second edition, Descartes, 1642 ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/3 "2000-07-28T06:17:12Z")
Cogito Ergo Sum. “I think, therefore I am.” Discours de la Méthode. 1637. ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/4 "2000-07-28T06:23:57Z")
Thank goodness I said ‘second edition’ or I would have looked even dumber. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/5 "2000-07-28T09:03:14Z")
Also, the quote is often misinterpreted as meaning that Rene’s thinking is the cause of his existence, when actually what it means, is that Rene’s thinking is how he knows he exists. It doesn’t in any way preclude the possibility of nonthinking things existing. ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/6 "2000-07-28T11:32:15Z")
[http://www.gunther.simplenet.com/v/data/immanuel.htm](http://www.gunther.simplenet.com/v/data/immanuel.htm) And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart “I drink therefore I am” ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/7 "2000-07-28T12:21:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by malaka \* > \*\*And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart > “I drink therefore I am” > \*\* drat - you beat me to it ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/8 "2000-07-28T12:54:26Z")
Hey Rene… wanna 'nother beer? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/9 "2000-07-28T13:24:50Z")
I have a funny little book that reveals that what Descartes actually said, with a sniff of his nose, was “I think, therefore I am French.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/10 "2000-07-28T13:58:44Z")
> [@](#): > > “I drink therefore I am” Hey, that’s my line! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/11 "2000-07-28T16:09:57Z")
The little philosopher that could: _I think I am, I think I am, I think I am_. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/12 "2000-07-28T16:14:49Z")
Cogito, ergo, potato. I think therefore I yam. ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/13 "2000-07-28T16:38:41Z")
no, it’s Descartes in a bar & the barman asks him if he wants another drink. Rene says “I think not” & vanishes… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/14 "2000-07-28T17:10:47Z")
Gee, I feel honoured, Yue! And I actually think I know what you’re talking about. So I can respond, and you didn’t invoke my name in vain. The actual set up, IIRC, is that Descarte starts to prove existence by doubting everything – he doubts his senses, doubts what he sees, doubts what he hears, etc. He doubts that the chair exists, he doubts that the room exists. In the end, he can doubt that everything exists, except his own doubt. He cannot doubt away the doubt itself. And thus, he says, “I doubt; therefore I think. I think; therefore I exist.” Man, it’s been over 30 years since I took that class! ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/15 "2000-07-28T17:16:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Descarte starts to prove existence by doubting everything … that can be called into question. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/16 "2000-07-28T17:55:05Z")
I read it long time ago but I still remember the gist of it. He tries to build his philoshophy starting from scratch, putting everything into question. His first step then is to confirm his own existence and states “I think therefore I exist” and goes on to say not even the most skeptic could doubt the correctness of this assertion. From there he goes on… I am sure the original text could be found online but I am quite sure this summarizes it. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@Me\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Joe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/17 "2000-07-28T18:19:06Z")
Rene Descartes was on an airplane. the stewardess came up to him and asked “Would you like a beverage sir?” Descartes replied “I think not…” and POOF… he disappeared. P.s. I know Descartes on an airplane is an anachronism. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/18 "2000-07-28T18:24:08Z")
Since we’re stuck with puns, people who prefer “Cogito, ergo sum” to “Non sum qualis eram” are putting Descarte before Horace. ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/19 "2000-07-29T00:56:35Z")
Dext… Oh please…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164/20 "2000-07-29T03:41:37Z")
I wonder if someone was just conflating two similar stories? Augustine of Hippo also ran through some ontological musings in which he wondered whether he really existed and how he could know for sure. His response was “_Si dubito, sum._” (If I doubt, I am: If I am even capable of doubting my existence, _someone_ must be doing the doubting, so I must exists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rene-descartes/27164.md?page=2)