I have been thinking about René Descartes.  Descartes made a world changing discovery on November 10, 1619.  Descartes was a 17th century mathematician, upper class, university educated and was well-traveled in Europe. Descartes, uneasy with his learning based upon Medieval scholasticism, couldn’t discount nagging doubt triggered by the discoveries of Galileo, by the rise of “reason” proclaimed by Francis Bacon. Descartes desired certainty, a bedrock foundation of knowledge. In the words written in his autobiographical Discourse on Method:

I remained a whole day shut up alone in a stove-heated room, where I had complete leisure to occupy myself with my own thoughts.

There he made his great discovery:

“Cogito, Ergo Sum.”  —  I think therefore, I am.

Descartes believed he had discovered the foundations of a wonderful new science. The following night “having gone to bed all full of his inspiration and wholly occupied with the thought” of his great discovery, “he was visited by three consecutive dreams, which he believed came from on high.” Descartes gave thanks to God and pledged himself to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Blessed Virgin at Loretto.  Descartes, the apostle of reason nevertheless was a pious catholic.

Why is this 17th century story important, crucial to understand the political impasse, existential vertigo, and social cul de sac of the West on November 9th 2021?

Descartes grasped that methodological doubt cannot dissuade the subject doubting, — that he or she exists.  Thinking (or doubting) proved beyond doubt, the reality of a self.  Therefore, the thinking agent is a certain foundation for all of the operations of reason. Doubt itself, awareness of movement of the mind is convincing proof, that a self is competent to exercise reason, that expansive departments of knowledge can be securely built upon this foundation, that the individual is qualified to make choices sufficient to construct republics of free citizens. Both the French and the American revolutions were inspired by these considerations…

How has the assertion, that the self is the bedrock of reason worked out? How are we doing? The events of January 6th should give us pause.  Without success, a citizen mob assaulted the halls of Congress with the battle cry “take back our country.”  A failed coup in a democratic republic ostensibly founded upon reason… The perpetrators having a significant power base in congress retain their freedom, will again attempt to seize control by any means in their power.

Having read this far, you are likely to be asking, “So what is your point?”

1. Reason is adequate for solving near term problems.  And that is all.  eg. How many hours drive to Asheville? How much salt should I add to the cookie dough?

2. To assume reason is universal, and that education is sufficient to channel the inclination of the mind to wander, to be influenced by advertising, to be seduced by propaganda, — is a fundamental mistake.

3. We have underestimated the ubiquity of stupidity. Stupidity: the will to cause damage to one’s fellowman/women without any benefit to one’s self. Education is no vaccination against stupidity.  A Phd can be stupid.

4. Has the time come for a new beginning, time to start over again?

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