The Paradox of Certainty | Certainty Is Built Upon Uncertainty
Philosophy for Rebels 16
Philosophy for Rebels: A few words whose purpose is to entice thought exploration. It is about the journey, not the destination. More wisdom is found by thinking deeply about a single word than by reading thousands without stopping to think at all.
Philosophy for Rebels 16 - The Paradox of Certainty
Certainty is only an illusion without uncertainty.
Significant uncertainty must precede certainty; else, what could we be certain about?
If certainty is never challenged, then it remains merely an assumption with no foundation.
The dichotomy between certainty and uncertainty is seemingly paradoxical. Opposites in meaning, but unable to have meaning without the other.
Absolute certainty leads us to have such confidence as to never question the basis for our perspective. Therefore, it is an idea cemented in a moment of time that cannot grow. However, we would never know if there are valid challenges to that idea if we never consider them.
Certainty requires constant uncertainty to challenge its validity. Otherwise, certainty is nothing more than an illusion of confidence, as we have convinced ourselves of assumptions.
“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.”
― Voltaire
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