Recently I have been reading and reflecting upon Descartes’ ‘Meditations.’
‘I would not urge anyone to read this book except those who are able and willing to meditate seriously with me.’ Descartes offers us this counsel in his Preface. He makes clear to us that he means the ‘Meditations’ not to be a treatise of philosophical reasons and considerations, but rather an exercise in thinking, presented as an encouragement and a guide to those of us who will think reflectively rooted in a commitment to search with him (and, as he writes, ‘to argue’ with him).
Yesterday morning, as I was reading and reflecting – and arguing a bit with Descartes – a poem began to emerge into my consciousness. I set aside Descartes and took up pen and paper. An hour or so later I was reading the poem that had emerged. This morning, Gentle Reader, I offer you the poem.
‘I Think!’
‘Cogito’
‘I Think!’
Do I?
How often?
Really, Truly?
‘I Think!’
Whose thoughts?
Mine?
Yours, Theirs?
‘I Think!’
To recall?
To remember?
To ruminate, renounce?
‘I Think!’
To react?
To rationalize?
To excuse, defend?
‘I Think!’
To question?
To challenge?
To dismiss, deny?
‘I Think!’
To find?
To explore?
To seek, search?
‘I Think!’
To learn?
To embrace?
To discern, understand?
‘I Think!’
When?
Why?
Where, How?
‘I Think!’
‘How often, Do I, Really, Truly, Think?’ –Richard W. Smith, 3 August 2019
Searcher-Seeker 