Final answer:
Rene Descartes' statement "I think, therefore I am" reflects his belief in the certainty of existence proven by the act of thinking, known as the cogito argument. He adheres to substance dualism, distinguishing between the mind (non-physical) and the body (physical). Despite Descartes' views, modern science supports that thinking is tied to the physical brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Descartes' Cogito Argument
When Rene Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am," he posited that the very act of thinking is proof of one's existence. This statement, also known as the cogito argument, arises from Cartesian Skepticism, which doubts all things except those that are absolutely certain. Descartes' cogito is such a certain truth because even doubting one's existence is a form of thinking, which confirms the existence of the doubter.
Descartes and Dualism
Descartes espoused substance dualism, which means he believed in two fundamental substances in existence: the physical and the non-physical, or spirit. Modern science, however, has established that thought processes are inextricably linked to the physical brain, and there is no evidence to suggest that thinking can occur without it.
Knowledge Through Reasoning
For Descartes, knowledge could be acquired through the use of reason alone and did not require sensory experience. He argued that human beings come equipped with certain innate ideas and the ability to use reason to attain clear and distinct truths, such as the fundamental knowledge of one's own existence as captured in his famous maxim.