Who Said I Think Therefore I Am

Rene Descartes, a French philosopher, is widely credited for coining one of the most famous quotes in history with the phrase “I think, therefore I am.” This quote was central to his work and was a cornerstone of his legacy in the history of philosophy.

The full quote from Descartes’s work, Discourse on Method is “Je pense donc je suis,” which translates to “I think, therefore I am.” Descartes uses the phrase to express his conclusion that the very act of thinking proves the existence of an “I” or “self” — the thinker or consciousness.

Descartes is known for his approach to philosophical thought, which was characterized by taking a rationalistic approach, often emphasizing logic and the use of reason over other methods of inquiry. This is evident in the quote itself, as Descartes uses the deductive method of “If such-and-such is true, then this must follow” to arrive at his conclusion. Thus, by reflecting on the fact that one must exist in order to be able to think, Descartes concluded that the act of thinking was in itself a proof of one’s existence.

Despite becoming a cornerstone of his philosophical legacy, Descartes’ phrase did not appear in the original Latin edition of his Discourse on Method. It is believed to have been an interpretation of his original words by the translator of the 17th century French edition, which the phrase has commonly been associated with ever since. It has gone on to become arguably the most famous quote in philosophical literature and has been used in many different contexts, from popular culture to politics and economics.

The implications of this phrase and its relevance to the structure of philosophical thought largely rely on the idea of self-awareness. The idea that we are able to think for ourselves and make autonomous choices is what many philosophers have based their thoughts on. Thus, I think, therefore I am, has been an important phrase throughout the history of philosophy and is likely to remain so for many years to come.