Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 09:36:56 +0200
Subject: Re: truth


Anthony Crifasi wrote:
> 
> Descartes focuses upon the certainty of the self in the
> Second Meditation precisely because he already rejected the certainty of
> external existence in the First Meditation.

Does Descartes focus on the certainty of the self? Or 
does he focus on the certainty of the _pronuntiatum_ 
(i.e. "ego sum, ego existo)?

[cf. Adeo ut, omnibus satis superque pensitatis, 
denique statuendum sit hoc pronuntiatum, Ego sum, ego 
existo, quoties a me profertur, vel mente concipitur, 
necessario esse verum. (AT VII 25)]

Immediately after the "pronuntiatum" he asks himself: 
who is this "ego" who I necessarily am? 

[cf. Nondum verò satis intelligo, quisnam sim ego 
ille, qui jam necessario sum; deincepsque cavendum est 
ne forte quid aliud imprudenter assumam in locum meî, 
sicque aberrem etiam in eâ cognitione, quam omnium 
certissimam evidentissimamque esse contendo. (AT VII 
25)]

Heidegger sometimes tends to overlook the Cartesian 
_pronuntiatum_ - which might have the same function 
as _nennen_ (e.g. GA04:188).  

Kindest regards,
Henk



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