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Single Idea 3850

[from 'Meditations' by René Descartes, in 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds ]

Full Idea

It is not only oneself that one discovers in the Cogito, but those of others too.

Gist of Idea

We discovers others as well as ourselves in the Cogito

Source

comment on René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §2) by Jean-Paul Sartre - Existentialism and Humanism p.45

Book Reference

Sartre,Jean-Paul: 'Existentialism and Humanism', ed/tr. Mairet,Philip [Methuen 1980], p.45


A Reaction

The analytical tradition requires a bit more than an instant perception of others in oneself. The problem of 'other minds' must at least be mentioned. However, the way to get to know a universal is to fully study a single instance.