Tweet version: “If you’re stuck or confused, back up to what you’re absolutely certain about. Use that as a foundation. Descartes was an extreme example.”
“I think therefore I am.” You know the quote. Do you know the context? It might help you the next time you get stuck.
The author, Descartes, was a philosopher and mathematician. He’s considered to be the first modern philosopher, the father of the discipline and an overall important guy.
Descartes Gets Himself Stuck
His most important philosophical work was to lock himself in a cabin and doubt everything. He reasoned that if he could find something that was absolutely trustworthy, he could build off of that. So he started meditating to see what was beyond all doubt.
The big problem was the possibility that all of his experiences might be a dream or illusion. If Descartes was crazy or somehow having his thoughts manipulated, then what could he really be sure of? I imagine this was a stressful exercise for Descartes, bordering on mentally unsafe and unhealthy. He had found a way to be maximally unsure, perfectly stuck.
How He Got Out
I’m not sure how long he was stuck there, but he finally found a way out. Paraphrasing: “Even if all of my thoughts are completely crazy, I’m at least having thoughts. So I must exist. I know for certain and beyond any conceivable possibility for being wrong that I exist as a thinking thing.” To quote it: “Cogito Ergo Sum” or “I think, therefore I am.” He uses that to get through the rest of his confusion, one step at a time.
The Takeaway
No matter how stuck or confused you are, as long as you’re not worried that your entire life is an illusion, you’re better off than Descartes. You can use his same basic trick.
What’s giving you trouble? Back up and list everything about the situation that you are 100% about. Go from there.
Image by StarbuckGuy.
