Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
Can we be certain of more than just our existence?
More instance:
Let's say 'I think, therefore I am' proves our existence.
Then by my reckoning it also proves what we are thinking of at that period of time.
For example
If I consciously think to myself that Mike Tyson punching me would hurt.
This would:
1) prove my existence
2) prove I think Mike Tyson punching me would hurt
If I were to doubt my existence
This would
1) Prove my existence
2) Prove I am thinking about doubting my existence
What I'm asking is: If I have a thought that I am consciouslly aware of, is there any way in which that thought is not certain? Surely it is certain that the thought is there if I am consciouslly thinking it?
If my exact thought itself was in doubt, then how could I prove my existence?
More instance:
Let's say 'I think, therefore I am' proves our existence.
Then by my reckoning it also proves what we are thinking of at that period of time.
For example
If I consciously think to myself that Mike Tyson punching me would hurt.
This would:
1) prove my existence
2) prove I think Mike Tyson punching me would hurt
If I were to doubt my existence
This would
1) Prove my existence
2) Prove I am thinking about doubting my existence
What I'm asking is: If I have a thought that I am consciouslly aware of, is there any way in which that thought is not certain? Surely it is certain that the thought is there if I am consciouslly thinking it?
If my exact thought itself was in doubt, then how could I prove my existence?
Comments (31)
Are you thinking Berkley's Idealism? (Kinda reminds me of it, in your OP.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjective_idealism
If nothing else, I suppose it's a starting point for clarification... .
I'm not sure haha!
If I am thinking a thought, that thought has to be certain.
if that thought could be doubted, then so could my existence.
Thought process entails existence, and that thought is a very special kind of thought, particularly self-evident, for some reason. But I do not see why it would need to be necessarily true, except that doubting it should prove pointless right away. Everything else can be doubted much easier.
Have you actually tried doubting it, I mean for real? Maybe physically it can not be doubted for more than a few seconds, if at all. I couldn’t at least, can you?
Firstly, what does it mean to be aware of thought?
The reason I'm asking is because I seem to have a perspective from which the awareness and thoughts are different and somewhat separate though not completely independent. I would put it as, "thought is an expression of awareness."
To me, "I think, therefore I am," seems more appropriate when it means, "I am aware, therefore I am." I think awareness (for me, consciousness is a more comprehensive terminology) is the fundamental person (or existence) because there's no way of getting past its ever-ness. For example, being conscious means being aware and having it on record while being unconscious means being aware without being impressed on any record. Either way, no matter the degree, consciousness/awareness is ever-present.
Is the thought I am having right now certain in how it is?
Yes it should be, but you can never be absolutely certain ( at all times and in all places). That's because you have a consciousness and subconsciousness (or in Freudian speak; conscious, preconscious, unconscious).
Examples:
1. Is one aware of their consciousness while sleepwalking?
2. Having a fatality while driving and daydreaming suggests uncertainty as to which brain is doing the driving(?).
In all honesty I never thought much of the quote.
I act, therefore I am, doesn't make sense(neither does "I think"). I am thinking, thus I am (What? A part needs to be added). I am thinking thus I am real, thus I am truth, thus I am part of the universe. If it were stated any of these ways, it's still an incomplete statement.
Can we be sure of other existences? Personally or as a species? I am sure of some others around me. By some strange means I may be able to confirm other simulations; but we're so discreet in the massive simulation that contains us, I doubt we'll ever find proof of another simulation.
Thought involves time and memory, so just by having memory be a subject of malfunction, for example, there is already a possibility to draw wrong conclusion even after the whole thought process was going fine up until that point. Plus whatever other possible ways our thoughts can be corrupted that we may not even know about.
So no, there is no absolute, or any kind of certainty in a single thought by itself, apart from how being ‘self-evident’ may be considered a measure of truth. However, if you write down as you think, and then further extend, derive and combine consequences of your conclusions, then consistency and practical applicability increase certainty to the point where it becomes true as much as it matters, i.e practically true, and I guess that’s the kind of truth we are after even if it is actually false in some wider metaphysical context.
My impulse was to answer, "No!"
But I realized I was certain of that...so the answer must be "Yes."
But then again, if it is "Yes"...then I was not actually certain of my original "no."
Which means the answer may be "No."
I'd offer my favorite answer (I do not know.)...but that seems to offend so many people I will refrain from doing so.
But you wouldn't need to be certain for the thought to be certain. Just you thinking the thought is in itself certainty?
If I am aware of a thought, that exact thought is certain. If it were not certain in exactly how it was occurring to me, then it's existence (and therefore mine) could be doubted?
It depends upon what you mean by 'certain'.
Certainty is a state of mind. If you only had one thought in your head, no matter what it was, I expect you would be certain of it; in fact I am certain of it, for there would be no capacity for doubt.
That's exactly what I mean.
If I have one thought in my head that I am conscious of, the context of that exact thought is certain.
So we can be certain of our existence (because of the thought) and certain of the thought itself?
It's not the word 'certain', that means nothing.
Experience of thought means the faclilities for our prolonged metamorphasis are healthy and we can think in real time.
The thought is "up there" perhaps.
If merely thinking, my thought is certain, there is build up because all I'm doing is projection with a stern face.
Moments do pass.
What is the forge of thought?
So my thoughts, as I think them, are certian in what they are?
No room for evil demon to alter them if I am aware of them?
How do you mean?
If I am aware of a thought, how is it possible that it could be different then my awareness of the thought itself?
You are aware of thought, that can be answered using science; scientific explanation replaces certain, in every context.
Thoughts: "I'm here, thus thoughts"
Well yes, just so long as you have sufficient capacity for thoughts about your thoughts; and without any evidence to the contrary, I can confidently (but perhaps not certainly) assume that you do.
So once one gets the thought that one exists (eg 'I am') then it is irrefutable and certain.
I am sitting here with the awareness typing this reply. That single thought is therefore certain in that it is happening?
Certainly for you it is. And I have no problem in believing it.
So we can be certain of our existence as well as the exact content of our conscious thoughts at the time of their awareness.
So is that beyond what Descartes meant by I think therefore I am?
It is irrational to doubt the fact of thought, and that thoughts have exact content; there is no such thing as a thought never had nor a thought had that is empty.
It is impossible for a human to prove that thought is predicated exclusively on the existence of the body, for to do so he must prove thought is impossible without a body, and he must also prove every possible body thinks.
Two cents.
I have no idea what Descartes actually meant. All we have is his statement; do with it what you will.
You have certainty of your own existence; what more do you want?