Cogito ergo sum | I think therefore I am – René Descartes

Cogito ergo sum is a Latin phrase (Old Latin as ˈkoːɡitoː ˈɛrɡoː ˈsʊm). This philosophical statement was written by René Descartes in his work, Principles of Philosophy (1644). The Latin phrase can translate as “I think, therefore I am”, and some of others translate as “I think, therefore I exist”. However, it was originally appeared in French as je pense, donc je suis in Descartes’ work “Discourse on the Method” (1637). Due to its important, it took a place in Western philosophy, and it is known as “the cogito ergo sum argument" and simply as the cogito.

Cogito ergo sum | I think therefore I am

This proposition opens paths to analysis of existence and doubt. Therefore, it became one of fundamental elements in philosophical world. Philosophy doubts subjects and asks questions, and then comes to conclusion(s) or gives choices. Existence is one of major subjects; especially it dealt with existence of god. Still it is not concluded. Majority doubts the existence of god. Likewise, our existence is doubtful too. Philosophy questions our existence in the lights of perception and other concepts. But Descartes concluded our existence by the cogito. His idea can interpret as follows:

I think – There is a subject, “I” and a verb, “think”.
The subject “I” is able to think. – The subject can produce an action (verb).
An action (think) cannot function without subject (I).
There is a need for existence of subject to perform an action.
Therefore, subject “I” is existing.

Therefore, our existence is real and it is not doubtful concept. However, it received negative criticisms from scholars. Some of them argued that it is a psychological appeal and self-rationalization, not logical argument. We are unable to deny our existence and impossible to think "I do not exist". Apart from mixed criticisms, the cogito has a better existence in philosophy.

When we compare the cogito and Socrates’ phrase I know that I know nothing, I would thumb up for Socrates. He was neither self- rationalizer nor self-logical arguer.

I know Vs the cogito

Here is a simple summary of comparison of two phrases.

Phrase	I think, therefore I am	I know that I know nothing
Philosopher	René Descartes (1596 – 1650)	Socrates (470 – 399 BC)
Origin of language	Latin	Greek
Region	Western	Western
Type	Epistemology, metaphysics	Epistemology
Category	Thought (self-existence & doubt)	Self-referential paradoxes
Logic	Supports proposition only	No
Psychology	Rationalization	Ignorance
Philosophical arguments	Yes	No

Beauty : What do you know about it?

The world is crazy about beauty. I don’t say what beauty is. The term is still arguable in the philosophical world, and it is one of philosophical problems. Apart from fundamental needs, it plays a vital role in human life. Sometimes, it gets the better of essence.

I remember a joke. It says an event of death of mother of an actress. At the funeral, daughter was weeping and mourning. She was expressing grievance by word, but never say a word “mummy”. The reason was that if she would have said the word mummy, her lips can touch each other and resulting rub off of lipstick. Moral of this joke is that being beauty is most important than grief.


Salon, cosmetic company, spa and beauty parlor are higher number or equal than some basic needs. I see them lot a pharmacy in a city. Cosmetic products are expensive than basic items. Cosmetic products have potential demand and many businesses run for the sake of beauty. People are more interest on knowing about beauty secrets than knowing themself.

But, Socrates word echoes “Beauty is a short-lived tyranny”.

View of Christianity on I know nothing

Theology or researching about God was part of philosophy. Later, it separated from philosophy. Therefore, philosophical concepts could be seen in religions. By the way, the word theology is usually referred to Christianity.

I know nothing by myself.

If we question that does Christianity has the view of I know that I know nothing, we would say nothing. But, if we do analysis, we could find some interesting facts as follows:

Read Job 8:9. It says "For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow". Job was wise man and his words were sagacious thoughts. He referred human as yesterday and indicated luck of knowing of human as nothing. I feel it is pretty wise words.

Another verse in Bible says the living knows that they will die, but the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The verse seems logical statement. All human being and living must die and became dead. Therefore, no one knows anything which means we know nothing.  The statement could interpret as following logical statement.
Human are dead.
Dead knows nothing.
Therefore, human knows nothing.

St. Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 4:4, "I know nothing by myself", which that means "I know nothing against myself". Paul was well educated (theology, philosophy) person and greatest Christian missionary and first theologian of Christianity. He declared that he knows nothing against himself. Many would say he was humble person before God and suppressed himself. Yes, it could be true. Anyway, he could have been stated from his philosophical knowledge, and mixed philosophy + theology.

HD wallpapers for PC

Here are five HD wallpapers for PC monitors with the quote. These normal wallpapers have resolution of 1024x768 and screen ratio of 4:3. It is believed that about 70% of users use such screen resolution. Anyway, others to use by using resolution settings.

You may click Download below in each image's caption, and it will open in full HD, and then you could save/download in appropriate place.

Download Blue Spiral

Download Blue Waves

Download Full Magenta

Download Yellow Wave

Download Lines in Gray

I know that I know nothing lyrics

I was able to figure out some interesting songs, which sound to the quote of Socrates - I know that I know nothing. It doesn't relevant to philosophy. However, the lyrics give certain philosophical view. Enjoy the lyrics below: 

Lyrics [1]

Come with me to find
What everybody wants in life
Do you know where it hides?
I don't

Here I am one more time
With the same damn lives
Is this really love?
Who knows
I tried to understand

But who knows all there is to know?
Who knows how love is supposed to go?
Have somebody found it all?
Tell me please

Here I am, down on the floor
Am I doing this so wrong?
Tell me something if you know
'Cause I know nothing

Everything feels so right
Yet everything feels so wrong
Will this always be my song?
Say no

We fight and then we don't
We laugh just to cope
Is this some sick joke?
Who knows
I tried to understand, yeah

But who knows all there is to know?
Who knows how love is supposed to go?
Have somebody found it all?
Tell me please

'Cause here I am down on the floor
Am I doing this so wrong?
Tell me something if you know
'Cause I know nothing, oh

There's gotta be a voice out there
Who answer prayers, oh, oh
Answer me if you can

'Cause you know all there is know
You know how love's supposed to go
And I know you found it all
So tell me now please

Here I am, down on the floor
I know I'm doing this so wrong
Tell me something 'cause you know
God, I know nothing.

Lyrics [2]

Everything that you know is as wrong as the next

So you hold on to something and hope for the best

And you know that it's right 'til you find that it's left

And I'm doing the same and I have to confess

That I know nothing

I never knew that there'd be nothing and no one to show you the way

I know nothing

When all I do is make it through to the end of the day

All my senses are pushing the whole other way

I can't see where to look now what's that that you say?

It's a beautiful world it's a beautiful day

And I wish I could say if I was feeling the same

When I know nothing

I never knew that there'd be nothing and no one to show you the way

I know nothing

I need an Obi-wan to tell me if I've gone astray

And I wish it was clearer to see

If you are what you're made out to be 

But there's no guarantee if you're you and I'm me

And there never will be, 'til I can see what you see

When I know nothing

I never knew that there'd be nothing and no one to show you the way

I know nothing

When all I do is make it through to the end of the day

I know nothing

I never knew that there'd be nothing and no one to show you the way

I know nothing

When all I do is make it through to the end of the day

When I know nothing

I never knew that there'd be

Know nothing

I never knew that there'd be.