Question

The turning point in Descartes' skeptical method comes when he finds he cannot doubt his own existence. But the self that he discovers in this way is not what you might think, because it is

Group of answer choices
a. nonexistent.
b. purely physical.
c. pure mind.
d. fictional.

Answer 1

C

Step-by-step explanation:

The turning point in Descartes' skeptical method comes when he finds he cannot doubt his own existence. The self that he discovers in this way is not fictional, purely physical, or nonexistent. Instead, Descartes argues that the self he discovers is purely mind or, more specifically, a thinking thing. This is expressed in his famous phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), which means that the fact that he is thinking is proof that he exists. In other words, while Descartes can doubt the existence of his body or the physical world, he cannot doubt the existence of his own mind or the fact that he is thinking. This discovery is the foundation of Descartes' philosophy and sets the stage for his subsequent arguments about the nature of knowledge, the relationship between mind and body, and the existence of God.