Descartes
Cogito, ergo sum, Latin's translation for Rene Descartes's "I Think Therefore I Am," has been at the center of the study and understanding of philosophy for decades on end. This famous observation by the renowned philosopher points towards the human knowledge of themselves, their self-worth and purpose in life, and how that continues to shape their lives according to every decision they make. However, the philosophical proposition has been met with criticism in equal measure. While most of the philosophers agree with Rene's observation, a section of the world believe it is a misleading notion that plays a significant role in creating the overconfident stereotypical types. Those in favor of the proposition cite such instances as the role motivation plays in enhancing human ability and result. For example, when learners are continuously encouraged to believe in themselves and are pushed to think they can achieve anything they set their minds to, the results are always a motivated learner who is resilient and persistent in the face of hardships determined to achieve what they set their minds to.
Philosophers from this point of view observe that unless an individual is led to realize their worth and believe in themselves, they will never achieve anything since they are directed to think they are failures in whatever field is in question. It can be noted that the world is filled with success stories of famous people who never cowed in the face of tribulations because they believed they were destined for things higher than their situations or backgrounds. These include the likes of former president Barrack Obama whose story of battling with racial discrimination tells other black people that as long as they believe they can achieve anything they want, that is what they will get. On the other, critics have been quick to point out the role Descartes's proposition plays in creating lazy stereotypes who prefer to sit back and dream. Some individuals in the society would observe that all it takes is a dream and an insane belief in oneself and their capabilities to achieve whatever they set their mind to. This proposition does not consider such factors as hard work and determination; instead, it only capitalizes on self-perception. If taken literally for what it is worth, the proposition would most likely mislead the young generation into laziness and impossible dreams.
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Rene Descartes's Second Meditation, titled "Cogito ergo sum, and sum res cogitans, recalls Archimedes' saying that he could shift the entire universe given one fixed point. Then Descartes wonders the possibility of what he sees not existing, and that his memory is faulty. He observes that perhaps the only certain thing in the world is that there is no certainty. One moment he believes that he too, like the sense he looks for, does not exist and that the physical world does not exist either. However, for him to be meditating and having all these thoughts, it means he must be existing. Descartes' Second Meditation reflects the human nature of not being able to make sense of some phenomena, such as the formation of the world or understanding the forces that hold the universe together.
Scientists argue that for that which there is no scientific explanation, there is no existence, backing Descartes's claims that since he does not understand what is going on, perhaps nothing exists. However, the other side of the spectrum would argue that not every aspect of life, the environment and the holistic being in the universe has to make sense. The deity for instance and the existence or the form of God does not have to be made understandable to humans for them to believe that such forces exist. All one can and should do is believe, and that is enough to explain their existence.
