Cogito ergo sum

The Latin phrase "cogito, ergo sum" (traditionally translated as "I think, therefore I am," but more accurately "I am thinking, therefore I exist") is possibly the single best-known philosophical statement, and is attributed to René Descartes. "Cogito ergo sum" is a translation of Descartes' original French statement, "Je pense, donc je suis", which occurs in his Discourse on Method.

Related Topics:
Latin - Philosophical - René Descartes - French - Discourse on Method

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Although the idea expressed by "cogito ergo sum" is most commonly associated with Descartes, it was present in many of his antecedents, especially Augustine of Hippo in De Civitate Dei (books XI, 26), who offers this argument, and anticipates modern refutations of it.

Related Topics:
Augustine of Hippo - De Civitate Dei

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See Principles of Philosophy, §7: "Ac proinde haec cognitio, ego cogito, ergo sum, est omnium prima et certissima etc."

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