Johanna Gauss
Dr. Michelman
Intro. Philosophy
Achieving Certainty
As I sit here trying to come up with a logical thesis on whether or not certainty is accurately obtained or achieved I have come to the conclusion that there can be no thesis due to the fact that certainty is one of the most arguable notions there is. Certainty can almost be labeled as an impossible achievement sitting on the shelf next to its neighbors of perfection and immortality. To obtain it one must acquire a vast amount of knowledge, experience, and truth through evidence and the senses. However, even after all these things can we really be certain we know the true meaning of obtaining certainty?
Knowledge has a great deal to do with whether something is certain or not. Many times we believe things instead of having real knowledge of it. We believe that “to be certain” we must have a general idea of a subject. For instance I could believe that it is snowing outside because of how cold it was or what the weather forecast tells me but I only have the belief which may or may not be true. I can only be certain if it is snowing if I have absolute knowledge that it is, requiring me to go outside and first-handedly allow my senses to become a witness to the snow fall. This goes to show that beliefs are not backed up by evidence they are only educated guesses. However, with knowledge comes doubt and skepticism. Skepticism means to reflect or consider a certain topic or being. Philosophers use this term to conclude that unless we can know something absolutely or with certainty, then we cannot know anything at all. If we say that we know something we cannot also say that we may be wrong about it as well.
Some people claim through evidence and analysis that certainty can arise through things other than the fact that we exist. For example, I am certain that my mom is cooking dinner because I can smell... [continues]
Dr. Michelman
Intro. Philosophy
Achieving Certainty
As I sit here trying to come up with a logical thesis on whether or not certainty is accurately obtained or achieved I have come to the conclusion that there can be no thesis due to the fact that certainty is one of the most arguable notions there is. Certainty can almost be labeled as an impossible achievement sitting on the shelf next to its neighbors of perfection and immortality. To obtain it one must acquire a vast amount of knowledge, experience, and truth through evidence and the senses. However, even after all these things can we really be certain we know the true meaning of obtaining certainty?
Knowledge has a great deal to do with whether something is certain or not. Many times we believe things instead of having real knowledge of it. We believe that “to be certain” we must have a general idea of a subject. For instance I could believe that it is snowing outside because of how cold it was or what the weather forecast tells me but I only have the belief which may or may not be true. I can only be certain if it is snowing if I have absolute knowledge that it is, requiring me to go outside and first-handedly allow my senses to become a witness to the snow fall. This goes to show that beliefs are not backed up by evidence they are only educated guesses. However, with knowledge comes doubt and skepticism. Skepticism means to reflect or consider a certain topic or being. Philosophers use this term to conclude that unless we can know something absolutely or with certainty, then we cannot know anything at all. If we say that we know something we cannot also say that we may be wrong about it as well.
Some people claim through evidence and analysis that certainty can arise through things other than the fact that we exist. For example, I am certain that my mom is cooking dinner because I can smell... [continues]
Cite This Essay
- APA
-
(2011, 11). Philosophy Paper Achieving Certainty. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 11, 2011, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Philosophy-Paper-Achieving-Certainty-832190.html
- MLA
-
"Philosophy Paper Achieving Certainty" StudyMode.com. 11 2011. 11 2011 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Philosophy-Paper-Achieving-Certainty-832190.html>.
- CHICAGO
-
"Philosophy Paper Achieving Certainty." StudyMode.com. 11, 2011. Accessed 11, 2011. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Philosophy-Paper-Achieving-Certainty-832190.html.
