The Cartesian Question Tool is a set of 4 questions that can lead to new awareness of what inspires you and what blocks you from making a decision or seeking a particular goal. These questions may seem a bit strange or repetitive at first, but please bear with me.
The 4 Cartesian Questions, formulated by Rene Descartes, a 17th century French philosopher and mathematician, are ideal for any critical thinking process you face. They can help you to:
- Find new solutions and resources
- Open your mind to new alternatives
- Explore the ecology of your decisions and goals
- Identify the underlying thoughts, beliefs and values related to your decisions and goals
In addition, the 4 Cartesian Questions can help you identify secondary gains (the benefits of continuing to stay just as you are) and other areas where you may be self-sabotaging.
These questions can help you think differently.
Here are the very simple yet highly effective four questions. As you consider a particular decision or goal, ask these questions in the order presented. After answering each question, ask yourself, “What else?” (This will help you dig even deeper).
- What will happen if I do X? (helps you visualize your goal fulfillment and increases your motivation)
- What won’t happen if I do X? (helps you understand what you may lose if you achieve your goal–this could be a useful loss or a painful one)
- What will happen if I don’t do X? (helps you identify the pain of staying just as you are–can be a powerful motivator)
- What won’t happen if I don’t do X? (helps you identify hidden perspectives and feelings as well as what will be absent, missing or unavailable to you).
Here’s a helpful diagram of the Cartesian Question Tool:
The best way to understand how powerful these four questions can be is to share an example:
A friend recently said to me, “I really want to quit my job and do something that I enjoy”. At the time, I listened quietly and tried to empathize with the dissatisfaction my friend was experiencing. However, I could have offered the Cartesian Questions.
I could have asked the first question: What will happen if you quit your job? My friend may have said something like this: “I’ll feel better, be under less stress. My wife will not be happy with me. My family’s financial security will be at risk. My boss will be really upset with me. I’ll have to think hard about finding a new job, one that will feel more worthwhile to me”.
Then I could have asked the second question, What won’t happen if you quit your job? My friend may have said something like this: “I (we) won’t be able to go on vacation this year. I (we) won’t be able to remodel the bathroom as we had dreamed of doing. My wife won’t get the new stove she wants. I probably won’t be able to afford my gym membership. I won’t feel as miserable as I do now. The stress of dealing with a difficult boss will be gone”.
I could have gone on to ask the third and the fourth questions, What will happen if you don’t quit your job? And, What won’t happen if you don’t quit your job? And then, “What else?”
The process of using these curious exploratory questions can yield interesting results that will help move you forward. Sometimes it can take days or even weeks for the effect of these questions to “kick in”, so don’t worry if you have difficulty identifying your answers right away!
Challenge: Think of a major decision you are facing or a goal that you believe to be a worthy endeavor, and write it down on an index card or post-it note. This life decision or goal= “X”. Then take out a piece of paper and create the Cartesian Question Tool grid as above. Leave enough space so you can write your thoughts and realizations under each question. When you think you are finished with each question, always remember to ask yourself “What else?” Then, when you have completed the exercise, ask yourself these questions:
- What did I learn about myself?
- What surprised me?
- What would I like to ponder further?
- How do my responses impact my decision or motivation towards my goal?
- What values (things that are really important to me) can I see reflected in my responses?