I think, therefore I am

[Purple]

In 1637 René Descartes published Discourse on the Method in which he first wrote "I think, therefore I am". It was his attempt to find a statement which was always true. It is probably more correctly translated as "I am thinking, therefore I am". In essence he postulated that one could think they are running through a field but he dreaming or delusional, you could think you are a sheep or a child or a god etc and be wrong, but you couldn't think you were thinking and be incorrect.

It is a a first principle, a basic proposition or assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption. It's been the unassailable starting point of many philosophical propositions and theories since.

Now we are rapidly moving into the area of neural implants, brain-computer interfaces. Companies like Elon Musk's Neuralink, Precision Neuroscience, Blackrock Neurotech and many more are performing human trials in Human Augmentation. It will change the world for good and ill but it may also invalidate an almost 500 year old universally accepted unassailable philosophical truth.

 

[Leper]

I’m still trying to figure out the poem @Purple added to one of my posts. I’m more confused now with I think, therefore I am.

 

[Purple]

Sorry @Leper, I left a few words off the end.

 

[Howth Head]

but you couldn't think you were thinking and be incorrect.

I think you might be overthinking this!!

 

[mathepac]

In 7361 Setracsed wrote "Am I therefore, think I" just before they blew an IC.

 

[Cervelo]

It is a a first principle, a basic proposition or assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption

I feel Descartes got all the words right but it was Heidegger who put them in the correct order "I am therefore I think"
There is a subtle difference between the two with the latter been more correct in relation to modern day thinking
Without the help of AI it only took 300 years to correct this first principle, with AI who knows where we're heading or what's possible

 

[Purple]

I feel Descartes got all the words right but it was Heidegger who put them in the correct order "I am therefore I think"

I think that while Heidegger rejects Descartes proposition that the starting point is a form of subjective self experience they are in fact making two different points.

In the context of this thread I was postulating that we are reaching a point at which we will no longer be able to rely on Descartes starting point because technology will be able to generate our thoughts for us through neural implants. Philip K. Dick wrote a great little story about this in 1966 called "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale". It was later made into two Movies called Total Recall.