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Single Idea 1400

[from 'Meditations' by René Descartes, in 16. Persons / A. Concept of a Person / 1. Existence of Persons ]

Full Idea

Because the entire span of one's life can be divided into countless parts, each one wholly independent of the rest, it does not follow from the fact that I existed a short time ago that I exist now, unless some cause creates and preserves me each moment.

Gist of Idea

Some cause must unite the separate temporal sections of a person

Source

René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §3.49)

Book Reference

Descartes,René: 'Discourse on Method/The Meditations', ed/tr. Sutcliffe,F.E. [Penguin 1968], p.127


A Reaction

How could I 'prove' that this computer is the same computer as it was five minutes ago, even after I have accepted the straightforward existence of the computer? This is the Enlightenment Project, the mad desire to prove absolutely everything.