Descartes debate was nothing new. Ancient Greeks were also preoccupied with it. May years ago, I read about an intellectual group in Baghdad around 1100 years ago known as "The Doubters" (or the Skeptics). They were in many ways similar to Descartes. Their leader, whom we call "Abu" since I don't remember his name, was a fierce opponent (to the point of personal animosity) of Nazam (I think). Nazam was the leader one of the most influential thinkers who also believed in logic above all else, but not in the same silly sense. Anyway, one day Nazam saw Abu crying over the bridge on Tigress river. He asked about the problem and Abu told him that he had just lost his son. Nazam began to console him with the usual this was fate, he is in a better place now, and so on. To his surprise Abu said, "What I am really sorry about, is that my son died before reading my latest paper on 'doubting' and so he died ignorant". Realizing the magnitude of Abu's dogmatic thinking, Nazam answered, "Well then, since you doubt everything else, why don't you just doubt that your son is dead and go living a happy life". At this point Abu threw his papers in the river and gave up the doctrine.
Descartes and all those who question there is a real world beyond their thinking should close their eyes and wonder off in Baghdad today. If they live, they have proven their point. Otherwise the problems has been taken care of <g>. |
