What Renés Descartes Got Wrong

In search of a solid foundation for reasoning, the French philosopher Renés Descartes famously said, “Cogito ergo sum.” I think therefore I am.

He arrived at this by doubting all experiences as possible illusions. He found the only thing he couldn’t doubt was that he was aware and thinking. From here, he could base the rest of his thinking on this unarguable truth.

Cogito ergo sum

and as I observed that this truth, I think, therefore I am, was so certain and of such evidence that no ground of doubt, however extravagant, could be alleged by the sceptics capable of shaking it, I concluded that I might, without scruple, accept it as the first principle of the philosophy of which I was in search.”
— Renés Descartes

The missing piece

I think Descartes missed a key point. His “I” was too narrowly scoped. He doesn’t include society and language in his concept of a philosophical first principle.

There is no way he could have spoken his now famous words or conceptualized the chain of logic leading to his conclusion, had he not been part of a society of people with a language. Therefore, language and hence community is a parallel and equally important aspect, if not the fundamental principle of his first principle.

So a more appropriate statement is:

“I think therefore we are.”

Further reasoning

Philosophy itself only exists within the realm of language. Philosophy is an artifact of human society built on top of a shared language base that represents the concepts of our day. To read more on this line of thinking, check out social constructionism.

On consciousness

I agree with Descartes that there is certainty in being conscious however, it would be impossible to share this were it not for society and language. The moment that the phrase “I think therefore I am” is thought or said, it must also account for the source of the words and inherent logic, which is society at large and the existence of a thinking process.

Is it possible to doubt without language?

You could also question the method which Descartes uses to construct his philosophy. He tests all experiences as “doubtable” however the logical method of “doubting” requires an ability to “doubt”. Where does doubting come from? Society and the shared concepts that we symbolize with language.

But maybe its all just wordplay :) What do you think?

The main point for me, is that we are not isolated individuals and thinking that is too individualistic is the basis of much of society’s anxieties and inequalities.