Subjectivism given consciousness is dependent on that consciousness. This has its philosophical basis in the writings of Descartes (see "cogito ergo sum"), and forms a cornerstone of Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy. Recently, more modest versions of metaphysical subjectivism have been explored. For example, I might hold that it is a "fact" that chocolate is tasty, even though I recognize that it is not tasty to everyone. This would imply that there are facts that are "subjective". (Analogously, one might hold that it is a fact that it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, even though this is not always the case, implying
Cogito, ergo sum ("If I am mistaken, I am") (book XI, 26), and also anticipates modern refutations of the concept. Furthermore, in the "Enchiridion" Augustine attempts to refute skepticism by stating, "[B]y not positively affirming that they are alive, the skeptics ward off the appearance of error in themselves, yet they do make errors simply by showing themselves alive; one cannot err who is not alive. That we live is therefore not only true, but it is altogether certain as well" (Chapter 7 section 20). In 1640 correspondence, Descartes thanked two colleagues for drawing his attention to Augustine and notes similarity and difference.