Whether you say it in Latin (cogito ergo sum), French (je pense donc je suis), or in English (I think therefore I am), you are expressing the rationalism of French philosopher René Descartes. Learn more about Descartes's worldview and his most famous works with a short analysis video.

Concepts

rene descartes, enlightenment philosophers, philosophers

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Include in a discussion about philosophers of the European Enlightenment
• Have learners watch the video at home for a flipped classroom activity; discuss their notes and questions in class the next day
• Encourage class members to choose one of the passions discussed in Les passions de l'âme (Passions of the Soul) and create a sensory collage or poem based on their chosen word

Classroom Considerations

• Best used with older learners, based on the advanced level of discourse

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Animation is fun and engaging
• Extrapolates Descartes's most famous maxim and relates it to his body of work, as well as to his philosophy as a whole

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RH.9-10.2 RH.11-12.2