Floating Man (thought experiment)

The Floating Man thought experiment, proposed by philosopher René Descartes, questions whether a person can truly know they exist independently of sensory experience. Imagine a person suspended in the air, completely isolated from the world, with no sensation of touch, sight, or sound. Despite lacking any sensory input, the individual might still recognize that they are a thinking, conscious being—an awareness of oneself. This suggests that self-awareness or the mind’s existence is intrinsic and does not depend solely on external sensory experiences, highlighting the idea that consciousness is fundamental to personal identity.