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Pointing back to previous statements with the wax analogy, only intellect is capable of perceiving in clear and distinct manners, and thus the certainty of the thinking being to exist as long as the person is thinking comes from pure understanding through intellect; the mind and intellect are similar in nature to each other but different in nature and only act as unity in composition with the body (there is body and mind in a being operating separately) (AT VII 423). Additionally, since, as stated before, the knowing of the intellect’s or the mind’s capability to judge and understand is certain, it confirms that the nature of the mind, capable of thinking is better known than the bodies (wax).

By reasoning why the senses and imaginations are not capable of perceiving what is, and by stating how intellect alone is capable for all clear and distinct perceptions, the meditator concludes not only that the nature of the mind is better known than the bodies, but also concludes that she can know with certainty her existence and that she is a thinking thing.

Reference:
Descartes, R. Meditations on First Philosophy. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Vol. VII. p.16-23.

By: Kaung