Lichtenberg’s Point

In: Grazer Philosophische Studien
Author: Boris Hennig 1
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Online Publication Date:
02 May 2018
In:
Volume 95: Issue 2
Article Type:
Research Article
Pages:
265–286
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/18756735-000040
Keywords:
Descartes; Lichtenberg; cogito argument; res cogitans

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The author argues that when Lichtenberg recommends saying “It is thinking” instead of “I am thinking”, he is not suggesting that thought might be a subjectless occurrence. Lichtenberg’s point is, rather, that we are often the passive subject or medium of our thoughts. The author further argues that Descartes’ cogito argument is not affected by this point, because Descartes does not claim that we must be the active subject of all our thoughts. Moreover, the author suggests that the cogito argument operates with the notion of a qua-object: it consists in the move from “I am thinking” to “I-qua-thinking am”. Seen in this way, the cogito argument by itself leaves entirely open what might be true of me insofar as I am not thinking.

In:
Grazer Philosophische Studien
E-ISSN:
1875-6735
Print ISSN:
0165-9227
Publisher:
Brill | Rodopi
Cover Grazer Philosophische Studien

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