Skip to main content

How do you know you exist? - James Zucker

2,548,489 Views

21,336 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

How do you know you’re real? Is existence all just a big dream? Has some mad scientist duped us into simply believing that we exist? James Zucker investigates all of these questions (and more) in this mind-boggling tribute to René Descartes’s Meditations on First Philosophy.

Descartes believes that we can achieve truth by using our rational abilities. But are rational tools limited by our own perceptions?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator James Zucker
  • Director John R. Dilworth
  • Artist Kyra Kupetsky, Maria Ulacia
  • Sound Designer William Hohauser
  • Script Editor Addison Anderson
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from The Big Questions