Page 34 - Humanism 2019

“Cogito ergo sum.” - Descartes object) for other perceptions (e.g. smell, sight, touch) can
be doubted with radically skeptical thinking because the
possibility always remains that these perceptions are
“‘X’ thinks. I am ‘x.’” - Kierkegaard caused by some simulation, the deception of some
daemon, etc. [a,m] But what exactly is the procedure of

n a style derived from the canon of Western thinking? And, if thinking is the essence of self, is this also
I Philosophy, I built Metaphysics of Humanism off of a sufficient in describing the essence of being?
1
radically skeptical foundation by starting with Descartes’ A historical analysis of the word “thinking” would begin
proclamation “Cogito ergo sum.” (Je pense, donc je suis; I with Plato’s and Aristotle’s use of the term “τέχνη”
think, therefore, I am) and Kierkegaard’s more logical (techni; art) meaning a mental procedure of making.
formulation “‘X’ thinks. I am ‘x.’” to have firm Taken away from the context of “ποίηση” (poiisi; poetry)
grounding to support my later realizations. [a,b,m] and “πρᾶξις” (praxis; practicum) which imply specific
purposes, “τέχνη” (techni) in itself is not necessarily a
What is thinking? practical, or technical endeavor. [c,d] Another word,
According to Descartes’ position, thinking is a procedure “θεωρῐ́ᾱ” (theoria; theory) is used to describe another
that is necessary and sufficient evidence for the existence subtype of thinking which further distinguishes this
of a thinker to the thinker: the procedure that guarantees procedure from worldly machination. [c,d]
existence of the self to the self. Therefore, even with the In today’s world, philosophy has narrowed in the social
restraints of radical skepticism, thinking is the essence of domain in response to the certitudes of science. Logic and
self. In contrast, the suspected sources (e.g. scent, light,

1 Radical Skepticism is an approach of philosophy that assumes maximal doubt.
Depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” courtesy of shutterstock.com

31 HUMANISM IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES 2019 • VOL. 22