thought ↔ René Descartes

Relations (1)

cross_type 2.00 — strongly supporting 3 facts

René Descartes is fundamentally linked to the concept of thought because he explicitly defined it as reflexive consciousness in his work [1] and [2], a definition that serves as a primary point of comparison in philosophical discussions regarding substance dualism [3].

Facts (3)

Sources

Consciousness (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Fall 2025 ... plato.stanford.edu Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2 facts

quoteRené Descartes wrote in Principles of Philosophy (1640): "By the word ‘thought’ (‘pensée’) I understand all that of which we are conscious as operating in us."

claimRené Descartes defined the concept of thought (pensée) as reflexive consciousness or self-awareness in his 1640 work, Principles of Philosophy.

Dualism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Winter 2016 Edition) plato.stanford.edu Howard Robinson · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1 fact

claimE. J. Lowe's theory of substance dualism differs from René Descartes's because Lowe does not define the person as a purely mental substance defined solely by thought or consciousness.