Sentience

John K Clark (johnkc@well.com)
Sat, 9 May 1998 13:12:11 -0700 (PDT)


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On Wed, 06 May 1998 Dan Fabulich <daniel.fabulich@yale.edu> Wrote:

>Surely, if I did not exist, I would not know it.

If the above is true then it logically follows that if I know I exist then I
do exist. I know I exist.

>Wouldn't it be possible that I do NOT exist and that I have not
>formulated these questions at all?

Descartes wrote the most famous phrase in philosophy "I think therefore I am"
and it's famous for good reason, it's true. Some have criticized him and
insisted that it should be "I think therefore thoughts exist", but Descartes
got it right the first time. I don't have thoughts I am thoughts.

>"How does a person know that they exist?"

By something so powerful it puts logic to shame, direct unmeditated
experience.

John K Clark johnkc@well.com

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