we can do‚ since certainty comes through our minds and easily exits leaving us in doubt about what could have been. On the other hand‚ certainty gives confidence to people who become so overwhelmed with doubt. Certainty is what allows us to have more confidence to accomplish anything that other people may believe is the impossible. More than likely there have been many cases in history‚ politics‚ sports‚ and entertainment that have caused people to show either doubt or certainty. In history‚ the
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William Lyon Phelps stated an absolute certainty will make anything possible‚ but Bertrand Russell believed that our opinions should always have some sort of doubt. This conflict between optimism and doubt is most importantly meant to be kept balanced. This balance of doubt and optimism can be seen in the real world in many ways such as in sports or school. When Phelps said that we need to have an “absolute sense of certainty‚” he meant a setting your mind to it mentality. If you can imagine it
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Between Certainty & Doubt Phelps’ view that “certainty” enables one to “accomplish virtually anything” seems in conflict with Russell’s belief that opinions should be measured with “some sense of doubt”. Upon closer examination what is best when making life decisions is a matter of perspective. When weighing certainty versus doubt in the construct of important choices‚ it is irrefutable that they are different sides of the same coin; without one there cannot be the other. Absolute certainty comes
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necessary to delineate the boundaries of its definition. It is in this context that I will discuss knowledge in the sense that implies certainty as the level of confidence I hold in its ability to reflect reality. Hereafter I will defend the notion that certain knowledge is impossible‚ as delineated by the theory of skepticism‚ and conclude by asserting that certainty is an unnecessary quality of knowledge in non-philosophical use. Let’s begin by examining the skeptic’s argument. Someone who holds
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How Is Certainty Possible? Certainty is defined as being free of doubt. In philosophy is there such a thing that we know without any doubt? Do we know anything with absolute certainty? Although we may believe to have genuine knowledge in some cases‚ there are other cases in which we do not know‚ but only think we know. Now therein lies the problem‚ how do we distinguish what is absolutely certain and what is not? This is why the idea of knowledge and certainty is so important. Both empiricists
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Certainty and doubt co-exist. The is no doubt without certainty (vice versa). The growth of the idea may be swayed by evidence (verbal‚ visible‚ or experience). Verbal evidence is not always credible and relies on the character of the person speaking; however‚ the speaker may conceal or twist the truth around to arrive at a logical point of view‚ therefore any person may believe the persons point. Lawyers‚ magicians‚ and politicians use pieces of the truth to direct certainty or doubt about their
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by both certainty and doubt. Many of us are natural optimists and only see the good in things; by remaining positive‚ we are certain that everything will resolve itself. However‚ we can never be certain how every event will naturally play out so we result to realism. By doubting the outcome of an event‚ we not only remain realistic but prepare ourselves for an undesirable result. Both William Lyon Phelps and Bertrand Russell strongly support their stance on the difference between certainty and doubt
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the concept that certainty can allow one to achieve all of one’s desires. But this present idea is utterly ambiguous. One cannot rely on certainty because nothing is truly certain. Everything that we hold to be true hasn’t been proven wrong‚ but who is to say that it couldn’t be true? There is no power that states if one is completely transfixed and convinced‚ they will be able to subdue all that believes otherwise. Doubt is‚ in many ways‚ an amenity; reality in which certainty‚ would be disregarded
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September 12‚ 2013 Certainty & Doubt Behind every risk of decision made‚ or that will ever be made‚ lies certain varying degrees of certainty and doubt; the individual must decide based on the situation. However‚ in relation to both short term and long term activities‚ people should not act with a high degree of certainty‚ but rather act with a sensible‚ if not a considerable amount of doubt. In fact‚ the masses should act with a heavier amount of doubt‚ and a minuscule amount of certainty; either to save
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Relationship between Doubt and Certainty The 2012 Summer Olympics had a major impact on the world’s views on society when Oscar Pistorious‚ South Africa’s “The Blade Runner”‚ ran the 400 meter run with two carbon-fiber legs. At home Pistorious was always treated like a person without a handicap‚ but when becoming public to the world‚ most individuals weredubious of his ability to compete against non-handicapped runners. Being certain of himself‚ Pistorious never let the negativity bring him down
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