The Absolute Sense Of Certainty

Our lives are affected 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. Phelps is opinionated towards certainty; he supports an optimistic lifestyle and believes that “the absolute sense of certainty...can get [anyone] to accomplish virtually anything” (Phelps). On the contrary, Russel has a more realistic view of life; he understands that our world lacks guaranteed perfection and by “[entertaining] our opinions with some measure of doubt” (Russel), we can prevent disappointment. Despite our wavering opinions between optimism and reality, we must all learn how to balance certainty and doubt. According to Phelps, certainty is a key aspect to maintaining a positive
However, we cannot entirely be persuaded by one way of life or another. Our lives need balance in order to prosper and optimism and realism contribute largely to how we function. Phelps argues that certainty helps us achieve our goals and overcome even the most impossible situations. In accordance, we cannot expect that everything will turn out perfectly if we maintain a negative attitude on life. On the contrary, we cannot sit idly and wish for everything to turn out fine. By incorporating doubt into our thoughts, we can maintain a realistic view on life and prevent disappointment. Obstacles are inevitable and it is up to us to decide our outlook on life; by remaining both certain and doubtful of situations and their possibilities, we can be more determined to achieve our