Introduction

In our modern world, there is a pervasive belief that knowledge can be certain and absolute. We are taught that science and technology can provide us with objective and verifiable truths about the world, and that our beliefs and opinions should be grounded in evidence and reason. However, the field of philosophy challenges this notion of certainty and reminds us that knowledge is always provisional and subject to revision.

The post contains

🧠 Epistemology (knowledge)
👀 Empiricism and the problem of certainty
🃏 Skepticism
🐉 Accepting probability
🔆 Conclusion

Epistemology

Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that investigates the nature of knowledge, including how it is acquired and what it entails. In general, there are two main schools of thought within epistemology: Rationalists (Pythagoras, Plato, René Descartes, Spinoza, Kant...) believe that knowledge is composed of innate certainties that we can discover through our faculty of reason. On the other hand, empiricists (Aristotle, Ockham, Francis Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, John Stuart Mill...) argue that knowledge is acquired through accurate perceptions gained through our experiences.

Empiricism and the problem of certainty

Empiricism as we just said, asserts that knowledge is primarily acquired through sensory experiences and observation.
Empiricism follows the perception that human beings are born blank slates (tabula rasa): the human mind is "blank" at birth and develops its thoughts only through experience, there are no innate certainties to be discovered in our minds. We learn by observing qualities in objects.
One of the challenges of empiricism is that it assumes that sensory experience can provide us with objective and reliable knowledge about the world. However, this assumption is problematic, since our sensory experiences can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as our prior beliefs, emotions, and cultural background. As such, what we perceive as objective reality may be subjective and contingent upon our individual perspectives.
Additionally sometimes we perceive things that are not actually present. This can be observed in optical illusions, dreams, and hallucinations, where our perceptions are not based on reality and do not accurately represent the external world. For example, we can only recognize that we were dreaming after we wake up, so it is possible that our entire lives are just a dream that we are unaware of, similar to the concept presented in the movie "The Matrix." Despite the lack of evidence, there remains a possibility that our reality is not genuine. However, to assume that, would be to assume that we can never know anything for certain.

Skepticism

This is where the skeptic loop comes into place.
Skepticism is a position that questions the validity of all knowledge claims, including those that are generally accepted as true or self-evident. Radical skeptics argue that knowledge claims are either impossible to verify or are based on assumptions that cannot be proven. As such, they believe that all claims to knowledge are unjustified and should be regarded with suspicion or disbelief as a response to the problem of certainty and the limitations of human perception and understanding such as not being able to trust our senses as stated in the previous section.
This position, even if possibly correct, can be unsettling and disorienting, as it calls into question our most basic assumptions and beliefs about reality and is not useful whatsoever.

Accepting probability

David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, who believed that human knowledge was limited by our experience and perception, and that certainty about anything was impossible, acknowledged the futility of this and that humans still had a need for practical beliefs and actions, even if these beliefs and actions were only probable or likely.
Hume believed that considering things as true, even if only probable, was useful for human kind because it allowed us to navigate the world and make decisions based on our experiences and observations. In other words, while we cannot be certain about anything, we can still make judgments and decisions based on our best available evidence and reasoning.
For example, if we are crossing the street, we may not be certain that we will make it safely to the other side. However, based on our past experiences and observations, we can reasonably assume that if we look both ways and follow traffic signals, we are more likely to avoid being hit by a car. This probabilistic approach to decision-making allows us to function in the world and achieve our goals, even if we cannot be certain about the outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while radical skepticism may be unsettling and disorienting, it is important to recognize its validity. However, a completely skeptic life is impossible. David Hume's view offers a practical approach to living in a world where we cannot be sure of any absolute truths. Instead of focusing on certainty, we should focus on probability and make decisions based on our best available evidence and reasoning. By doing so, we can navigate the world and achieve our goals, while acknowledging the limitations of human perception and understanding. Additionally, philosophy reminds us of the importance of questioning our assumptions and remaining open to new ideas and perspectives, even if they challenge our existing beliefs.