In Descartes' Meditations, particularly in the Second Meditation, he engages in a process of radical doubt, questioning the existence of everything he believes to be true. However, he arrives at a certain indubitable truth when he states, "I am, I exist." Descartes argues that even if he is being deceived by an evil demon or experiencing illusions, there must be a thinking entity, a "I" or a "self," that is being deceived or experiencing these illusions. This self-awareness, the fact that he is doubting, thinking, and perceiving, cannot be doubted without simultaneously affirming its existence. Thus, he concludes that whenever he thinks, he must exist.
Descartes supports this conclusion with the idea that if one is doubting, there must be a doubter. Doubting itself is an activity that requires a subject, an "I," who doubts. Even if all other beliefs and perceptions are called into doubt, the act of doubting itself proves the existence of a thinking entity. This "I" or self, according to Descartes, is the foundation of knowledge because all knowledge depends on the existence of a thinking subject.
Now, let's consider Hume's perspective. In his work, Hume is known for his skepticism and empiricism. Hume would likely not agree with Descartes that the self is the foundation of all knowledge. Hume's philosophy emphasizes the idea that knowledge is derived from sensory experience and impressions. He criticizes the notion of a substantial self or ego, arguing that our sense of self is constructed from a bundle of constantly changing perceptions and experiences.
According to Hume, there is no enduring self that persists through time. Instead, our experience is a stream of ever-changing perceptions, without any underlying self or subject. Hume would question Descartes' claim that the self is the foundation of knowledge because he would argue that knowledge is based on impressions and ideas derived from sensory experience, rather than a foundational self.
In summary, Descartes argues that the statement "I am, I exist" must be true whenever he thinks it because doubting or thinking requires a thinking subject. Descartes sees the self as the foundation of knowledge. On the other hand, Hume would likely disagree with Descartes, asserting that knowledge is derived from sensory experience and impressions, and that there is no enduring self.
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