1.Descartes in trying to prove that he exists says: I think, therefore I am. But this appears to be defective by being a circular reasoning. The thing to be proved is " I exist" and the proof used by Descartes is "I think." The thing is being confirmed by itself.
2. Some philosophers before Descartes, particularly Gorgias, claim that we are unable to know whether or not we exist. We are in doubt as to whether we are now awake or are now dreaming. Logically, there is no proof one way or another. The most extreme are the Academic Sceptics who claim that knowledge is impossible. But this is clearly self-refuting.
3.If Descartes's proof is in fact defective by being circular, we are again back to the philosophy of Gorgias.
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