An inquiry into the human mind, on the principles of common sense / By Thomas Reid.

  • Thomas Reid
Date:
1769
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the human mind, on the principles of common sense / By Thomas Reid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/416 (page 11)
    Des Cartes finding nothing eftablifhed in this part of philofophy, in order to lay the founda- tion of it deep, refolved not to believe his own exiftence till he fhould be able to give a good reafon for it. He was, perhaps, the firft that took up fucha refolution: but if he could indeed have effected his purpofe, and really become dif- fident of his exiftence, his cafe would have been deplorable, and without any remedy from reafon or philofophy. A man that difbelieves his own exiftence, is furely as unfit to be reafoned with, as a man that believes he is made of glafs. There may be diforders in the human frame that may produce fuch extravagancies, but they will never be cured by reafoning. Des Cartes indeed would make us believe, that he got out of this delirium by this logical argument, Cogito, ergo fum. But it is evident he was in his fenfes all the time, and never ferioufly doubted of his exiftence. For he takes it for granted in this argument, and proves nothing at all. I am thinking, fays he, therefore I am: and is it not as good reafoning to fay, I am fleeping, therefore] am? or, I am doing no- thing, therefore 1 am? If a body moves, it muft exift, no doubt; but if it is at reft, it muft exift likeways. Perhaps Des Cartes’meant not to affume his own exiftence in this enthymeme, but the exi- ftence of thought; and to infer from that the exiftence of a mind, or fubje&t of thought. But why did he not prove the exiftence of his thought? Confcioufnefs, it may be faid, vouches that.