Will, Doubt, Habit

Descartes' exercise in Doubt is offered, and is usually interpreted, in Epistemological and Metaphysical terms, i. e. as a demonstration that 'I think' is the basis of Knowledge, and that Mind and Body are separate. However, with a different set of premises, the project takes on Psychological and Moral significance. For, given that sense-experience is belief about sensory input, that such belief is part of the formation of a plan of action, and that doubt is effected, as Descartes himself implies, by Agito, then such Doubting effects a disruption of behavior, i. e. it is nascent digression from a course of action that would begin with one's current circumstances. More precisely, insofar as Action combines Will and Comprehension, i. e. combines indeterminate Motility and some cognitive representation that imparts structure to it, Doubting disengages the former from the latter, thereby dismantling Action. Thus, insofar as Doubting can disrupt behavior, it can disrupt habitual behavior, which has Psychological significance, and insofar as habitual behavior is undesirable, Moral significance.