What Does “I Think, Therefore I Am” Really Mean?
“I think, therefore I am” is the foundation of René Descartes’ Methodological Skepticism, and it has become a hallmark of critical thinking.
Descartes had the courage to question everything, to memorize this great person, all critical thinking models have been named after Descartes.
The term “Cartesian” is now used to describe concepts related to his thinking.
Understanding Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is often misunderstood.
When people say “Critical”, we tend to associate it with negativity or criticism
However, in the context of Descartes’ philosophy, it refers to a process of questioning and evaluating ideas to arrive at the truth.
Let’s dive into Descartes’ core ideas to get a clearer understanding.
Descartes’ Four Key Principles of Rational Thought
In “A Discourse on the Method”, Descartes laid out 4 principles for gaining knowledge through rational inquiry:
1. Never accept anything as true if I did not have evident knowledge of its truth.
Descartes believed in not accepting anything as true unless it was evident and indubitable.
He insisted on beginning by doubting everything that could possibly be doubted to strip away assumptions and start from a firm foundation.
2. Divide each difficulty into as many parts as possible and as may be required for its better solution.
To better understand a complex problem, Descartes recommended breaking it down into as many smaller parts as possible.
This division allows for a clearer examination and easier solutions.
3. Conduct my thoughts in an orderly manner, beginning with the simplest and easiest to know.
Descartes advised solving simpler problems first, gradually building up to more complex ones.
He believed that a structured, step-by-step approach would lead to more reliable conclusions.
4. Make enumerations so complete and reviews so general that I should be certain of having omitted nothing.
Finally, Descartes emphasized reviewing all the steps to ensure nothing was overlooked.
This step helps to guarantee the thoroughness of the method.
Simplifying Descartes’ Method: A Practical Flow
The process Descartes outlined can be summarized as:
Doubt > Analyze > Integration > Review
It’s straight and easy to understand.
I’d like to call out “Integration” separately.
In many other interpretations, people usually call the 3rd step as: Simple to Complex.
That’s true, but I thought Integration would be a better term because it involves reassembling all the information logically, which leads to a more accurate and complete conclusion.
It’s not just about moving from simple to complex, it’s about building a stronger, integrated understanding.
The Essence of Cartesian Thinking
In essence, the Cartesian Model of Thinking is about questioning everything to get closer to the truth.
To verify if something is true, we must first suspect that it isn’t.
But doubting doesn’t imply something is false—it just means we are testing it against evidence.
- If evidence proves something false, we continue searching for the truth.
- If no evidence suggests it’s false, we move closer to accepting it as true.
This process reflects the journey toward truth and forms the core of critical thinking.
Common Mistakes in Critical Thinking
Many people make errors while practising critical thinking. Here are three common pitfalls:
Endless Questioning
Over-questioning can lead to a cycle of skepticism, where no conclusions are ever reached. It’s essential to stop at a point where you can make a decision based on evidence.
Stopping at the Questioning Phase
Simply questioning without analyzing or testing is incomplete.
You need to follow up on your doubts by providing evidence and completing the process.
Keep Doubting, Even After Completion
Even after completing all steps, some people continue to doubt their conclusions excessively.
Doubting doesn’t mean your conclusion is wrong—it means you’re getting closer to the truth.
