• Philosophy -> Epistemology and Theory of Knowledge

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Can't we simply rely on certainty instead of defeasibility to establish truth?

Jaime Spoerl

Certainly, there is a lot of value in relying on certainty to establish truth. Certainty provides a sense of security and comfort, and it allows us to be confident in our beliefs. However, there are some limitations to relying solely on certainty to establish truth.

Firstly, certainty is not always attainable. We may believe something to be true with absolute certainty, but that does not necessarily make it so. In fact, there are many instances throughout history when something that was believed to be certain turned out to be false. For example, people once believed that the Earth was flat with absolute certainty, but we now know that it is actually round.

Secondly, even when we are certain about something, there is always the possibility that new information could come to light that could challenge that certainty. This is where defeasibility comes into play. Defeasibility is the idea that our beliefs can be overridden by new evidence or information. It is an important aspect of critical thinking, and allows us to revise our beliefs and come closer to the truth.

In fact, many of the most important scientific discoveries and advancements have come about through the process of defeasibility. Scientists are constantly challenging their own beliefs and hypotheses, looking for new evidence and information that could disprove them. This is what leads to breakthroughs and new discoveries.

And this is why it is important to strike a balance between certainty and defeasibility when establishing truth. We should strive for certainty where it is attainable, but also be open to changing our beliefs in the face of new evidence. This allows us to have a more accurate understanding of the world around us, and to continue to make progress and improve our knowledge.

In conclusion, while there is certainly value in relying on certainty to establish truth, there are also limitations to this approach. Defeasibility is an important part of critical thinking and discovery, and allows us to revise our beliefs in the face of new evidence. It is by striking a balance between these two approaches that we can come closer to the truth and continue to make progress as a society.