“Cogito, ergo sum” is a Latin philosophical statement famously coined by René Descartes, which translates to “I think, therefore I am.” It expresses the idea that the act of thinking itself is proof of one’s existence. But is it possible to be thinking alone?
I believe it also comes down to our senses. This is how we truly know we are alive. From these senses, we experience life. To see, feel, taste, smell, hear and I would add balance to the list of senses.
Senses are an internal process also based on the external. They’re the conscious bridge or gateway that connect the two with the help of synapses and nerves which are the conveyors of our awareness and perceptions. They play a vital role in our ability to make informed decisions and perspectives in various aspects of our lives.
Senses bring in the raw data that allows the thinking process to analyze, interpret and understand, creating the reasoning for the decisions we make. Without the sensory input and processing, how can one come to an understanding of thinking, why or why not?
Pure thought without sensory input isn’t possible. The senses instruct the way one perceives itself, thoughts, the world and its inhabitants.
Joy and sadness are based on intelligence gathered by our senses, interpreted in our brain which creates our perception and how to deal with each.
If the body’s temperature increases too much, the senses inform the brain like a fire alarm, allowing the brain to adjust, release stress hormones, such as adrenaline, while shutting down certain parts of the body to cool it down.
If the body is injured, the senses will send sophisticated information to the brain and the brain will respond accordingly to stimulate the healing response and release pain relief as an emergency room trauma unit crew does.
The body relies on its senses for safety, survival, communication, enjoyment, and overall functionality. Without these sensory inputs, many essential aspects of human life would be compromised.
So, I will have to now make an adjustment to, René Descartes philosophical statement, “I sense, therefore I am.”
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Chu The Cud 
I would add that I feel, therefore I am. Intuition and feelings were the senses you missed. Emotion is a key ingredient to that mix that is often left out of our sense of self. I believe that the only way to believe in the self, therefore believe in the “I am”, requires us to feel it as well. Our intuition is deeply linked to our feelings and allows us to process that sense of self in a way we would not be able to without it. My 2 cents…
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I put sense because it encompasses the major five senses which include feel. Emotion is a derivative of the five senses. I try to keep it short and sweet, which leads to opening the mind to further exploration for the reader if they’re interested.
There is so much that can be written and researched about that subject. There are those that study certain philosophical concepts that abstract thinking doesn’t use the senses. It’s a deep philosophical subject.
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