The importance of Descartes idea of “Cogito Ergo Sum” has a deep and intellectual meaning to it. It is important because it emphasizes that logic, reason and truth all come form our mind. We should not take orders and statements from authorities, or someone on a higher class level than yourself as facts, just because they are richer or more powerful. Instead we should ask the reasoning behind it, and make sure you understand and concur with the reasoning behind it. Ask questions, be curious, and look at the science, statistics and facts. Make sure you are given you natural human rights and that you and your mind are not exploited by a member of the higher class. Everyone should be entitled to the same privileges, opportunities and claims. Everyone has the right to reflect and believe in what they want. People should be able to act and behave as they want and not have to hide behind their actions. Don’t be afraid, rather make inquires and make sure you understand why you are performing certain activities, not solely on the basis of someone else’s commands. If you are able to think and have an opinion, then you obviously exist and should have the right to. The fact that he can think or anyone can think implies that they exist. Any approach of thought proves existence. Thinking is a powerful and crucial aspect of life. It allows us to find reasoning behind certain statements, laws and “facts.” Remember that reason and logic come from your mind, and if you are able to ponder and think, this evidently means you exist.
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The enlightenment in Europe and the Americas was a time of change, growth, and awakening. The individuals of these nations had just gone through a time of fear. Fear of thinking and acting upon their thought and ideas. The idea of having a superior such as a God or a Monarch in a way blocked societies from using their intellectual abilities to create and innovate therefore limiting the potentials of many nations. So in a sense the idea of religion (God) and/or monarchs conflicted deeply with the evolution of the human brain. Descartes however saw innovation in the idea of God. Through deep thinking and the analysis of his brain and of what he conceives to be real he was convinced that the existence of everything is because of God and it starts with this constant generating of thoughts and ideas hence him saying “I think, therefore I am”. His enlightenment was very progressive. His goal was to find truth in this world with questioning everything and searching for reasons of existence. Instead of eliminating the idea of God and allowing it to put a limitation on his deep analysis of his existence. He used that idea as a tool to broaden his thought process, allowing the thought that there is a greater being that creates perfections around his life. In conclusion I believe that the enlightenment was the period of transition that echoed in to our world where now more than ever you see societies using reasoning to make change. It is eliminating the negatives of society such as racism, sexism and so on.