What does the Latin phrase, "Cogito, ergo sum" mean? Secondly, how did Descartes arrive at this truth as the only piece of knowledge that could not be doubted?
Answer in 4-6 sentences.
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The Latin phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" translates to "I think, therefore I am." It was coined by René Descartes, a French philosopher, to express a fundamental truth in his philosophy. Descartes arrived at this truth by engaging in a process of extreme doubt, known as methodological skepticism. He doubted everything he had previously believed to be true, including sensory perceptions and the existence of the external world. However, he realized that even in the act of doubting, he could not deny his own existence as a thinking being. This led him to conclude that, at the very least, he must exist as a thinking thing. This became the foundation of Descartes' philosophy and the starting point for his search for other knowledge.
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