Can We Ever Be Certain about Anything Based on the Evidence Available to Us?
No, we cannot be fully certain about anything based on the evidence available to us, because we are constantly in a state of subconscious denial of what is considered as external reality. This is why knowledge is often defined as justified true belief. Our perceptions and beliefs are often rooted in our subconscious and can be influenced by biases and preconceptions, making absolute certainty a rare or perhaps impossible achievement.
Thoughts on Certainty and Subconscious Denial
Depends on where the certainty belongs to. The fundamental wisdom of knowledge includes the certainty of certainty. If this fundamental changes, then so does everything. So indeed, the certainty of certainty is still a matter of doubt. With 100 percent certainty, one is certain.
But if we measure the width of a table using a tape measure and measure it repeatedly, we can achieve a high degree of certainty. Nonetheless, even in these definitive measurements, we must recognize the limitations of our instruments and our subjective interpretation of the results. Through repeated measurements, we can minimize error, but can we ever be 100% certain?
Limitations of Human Perception
Deep down, we know a little bit about many things and a whole hell of a lot about nothing. Embracing this humility is important; being overly certain about anything is a form of hubris that can cloud our judgment. There’s nothing wrong with admitting what we don’t know.
However, there is a fundamental wisdom in the perception beyond pure logical reasoning. Nietzsche offers some compelling insights: our knowledge of objects through their effects on us is an imaginative and artistic interpretation. Our perceptions are abstractions that may not capture the full complexity of the phenomena.
Nietzsche believed that perceptual metaphors, created by the imagination, are more creative, aesthetic, and playful than conceptual metaphors. Perception, which is closely linked to our somatic nerve stimuli, is more vivid, emotional, and holistic than conceptual thought. This suggests that our understanding and response to the world are influenced by both rational and intuitive processes.
Reflections on Certainty and Interpretation
The best I can answer is that something being certain, an interpretation, a subjective experience, or a matter of doubt, is just a way to explain our limited senses in our environment. It is a language that is constantly evolving to explain our experiences. Just as ancient Hebrew evolved into modern English, our understanding of terms like "freedom" and "science" has also changed. Thus, certainty, interpretation, and doubt are not rigid categories, but are fluid and context-dependent concepts.
Our knowledge is inherently limited by the parameters of our senses and our cognitive framework. As such, we must be humble in our pursuit of certainty and open to the possibility that our current understanding may be changed as we gain new perspectives or evidence. In the end, the quest for certainty is as much about the journey of continuous learning and adaptation as it is about the destination of knowing everything with absolute surety.