A long time ago, in a land far, far away, a mathematician/philosopher uttered the Latin phrase “Cogito, ergo sum.” It’s commonly been translated as “I think, therefore I am.” The philosopher was Rene Descartes, and another possible translation is, “I am thinking, therefore I exist.” So, what is existence, exactly?
A simple definition might be – interacting with reality. When something or someone interacts with reality, it exists, yet reality exists independently of any interaction. So, Unicorns exist because they interact with reality as an imaginary concept, and while they aren’t necessarily real because they don’t exist independently of the notion that resides in your imagination, they do exist upon the imaginary plane of your mind or something like that.
That’s what Rene was wrestling with four centuries ago while working on his 1637 treatise, “Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and of Seeking Truth in the Sciences.” He wasn’t wrestling with whether unicorns exist beyond your imagination but the idea that skepticism is required when attempting to discern the truth of your existence or the truth of anything else, for that matter.
Skepticism
That’s the important lesson we can learn from a French Philosopher who lived four centuries ago. Plenty of other philosophical skeptics pontificated on skepticism a couple of millennia before Rene, and I’m sure he built his thesis upon their exemplary works. The Greek word “skepsis” means to investigate. A “skeptic” is, first and foremost, an inquirer who devotes their life to inquiry.
“The words question and quest are cognates. Only through inquiry can we discover the truth.” ~ Carl Sagan
Inquiring minds want to know! WTF happened? Humanity was skeptical and inquiring as far back as history has been recorded. Great minds have been seeking the truth for centuries, yet here we are, deep into the twenty-first century, and thinking, reason, and inquiry all seem to be concepts from days gone by. It seems as if “Seeking Truth” is discouraged in today’s society instead of something to aspire to.
The education system plays a major role in our divergence from the path of truth. It’s designed to emphasize technical proficiency, standardized testing, and skills required in the workforce. Critical thinking and deep philosophical or reflective thinking have no place in modern education, which seems to be more like training grounds for global corporations than establishments of higher learning. Ethics, metaphysics, and moral reasoning are so 17th century.
No Time to Waste
Members of 21st-century society are praised for their productivity, efficiency, and communication skills. There is no time to waste reflecting on the meaning of life or to critically analyze the way things work. Perhaps it’s the constant drive for achievement and material success that leaves no time for introspection, deep thought, or reading a good book. Modern society seems to value convenience, instant gratification, and entertainment, which discourages any real thinking or truth seeking. Social media, reality TV, and the 24/7 news cycle create an environment where thinking is not incentivized.
Technology is another major impediment to thinking, it solves many everyday problems, reducing the need for practical, problem-solving skills that were once more common. GPS replaces map skills, calculators replace mental math, and search engines answer every question, reducing the need for critical and analytical thinking. Historically, discourse, debate, and intellectual rigor were prized. Today, the societal conversation often focuses on trivialities, like which football team won and whether the red tribe or the blue tribe is ahead in the latest poll.
If we flip the script, the statement becomes, “Non puto. Ergo non sum,” or “I am not thinking. Therefore, I do not exist.” The backward statement is even more poignant and profound than the original. To exist is to interact with reality, and when I look at society it seems like we aren’t doing that very well presently. Is it because we quit thinking, quit inquiring, and quit seeking the truth?
“Writing is not the most important thing; thinking is. But writing is probably the best way to improve your thinking.” ~ Matt Mullenweg