Single Idea 3912

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 4. The Cogito]

Full Idea

Since therefore I must exist in order to be mistaken, then even if I am mistaken, there can be no doubt that I am not mistaken in my knowledge that I exist…. I know that I exist, and I also know that I know.

Gist of Idea

I must exist in order to be mistaken, so that even if I am mistaken, I can't be wrong about my own existence

Source

Augustine (City of God [c.427], Ch.XI.26)

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'Modern Philosophy: introduction and survey' [Sinclair-Stevenson 1994], p.460


A Reaction

Fine, but the main problem is his over-confidence about a stable personal identity that does the thinking.