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Awareness & Reality

How do we know that we exist?

We exist.

No fact has been questioned more than this in the past half-century. Many have come to see this debate as a greatly enlightened one, feeling awe for someone who could claim that he does not exist. However, this pseudo-philosophical question truly needs no answer, but since modern society has an inordinate obsession with this issue, we must also throw in our hats. The very fact that you are reading this article proves your existence. Descartes could hardly have realized how central his famous sentence, "cogito ergo sum," (I think therefore I am), would be to an absurd debate to take place many centuries after his death. Yet, this statement proves existence more worthily than any other.

Essentially, all admit that we have cognitive faculties. We experience things. We see. We hear. We touch. We taste. We smell. If you did not exist, how could you experience anything? Our cognitive faculties (thinking, therefore being) are the basic instruments which prove that we exist. We know that we exist simply by knowing, by breathing, by feeling. Nothing can disclaim this most natural certainty.

We exist.

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