Why do people care about absolute certainty?

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bachelor?q=bachelor

Bachelor n.

1. A man who is not and has never been married.

Nice find! But I'll just swap them around and say:

all bachelors are unmarried men.

Are you certain now?

Since my silly error has been rectified, I sincerely hope you can now contribute something substantive to this discussion.

What if there's an evil, omnipotent demon who invented logic to trick us into believing things that weren't true? Therefore, every time we make the statement: all bachelors are unmarried men, it's actually wrong since logic is actually an illusion?

Have you acknowledged this possibility?

If you do say such a thing is possible, then you're not absolutely certain all bachelors are unmarried men.

Why do people care about absolute certainty?

So you just admitted it's metaphysically conceivable that the tautology may not hold.

Therefore, to be consistent must have to grant you're not absolutely certain that the tautology holds, since there's a chance you could be wrong. It's not an option.

But... I argue that you're still certain that the tautology does hold, even if you're not absolutely certain. The idea of a mischievous demon tricking us, although conceivable, is quite silly. So silly in fact that I put my money where my mouth is and say: there is no evil demon, the tautology holds.

Above all else, certainty requires courage.

I took that courageous leap when I say all bachelors are unmarried men or the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. Just like when you take that courageous leap and say there's milk in the fridge although it possible that a thief stole it while you were on the computer. Just like when you take that courageous leap when you say you're certain your children are actually your children. Do I make myself clear?

When you're certain you can still doubt what you've said by inventing silly ways you could be wrong.

When you're absolutey certain there are no grounds whatsoever to doubt what you've said.

Clear yet?

You can include qualifiers...such as, "If we accept the definition of bachelors as being men who are not married"...then we can be certain that all bachelors are not married.

In any case, you are inventing a problem here...unless you give an actual example of what you are talking about.

I'm bored, answer me these questions:

Are you certain that your children are in fact your children?
Are you certain that the speed of light travels faster than the speed of sound?

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You can include qualifiers...such as, "If we accept the definition of bachelors as being men who are not married"...then we can be certain that all bachelors are not married.

You can add all the qualifiers you like. It's all irrelevant to the mere possibility that pesky demon is tricking you, rendering your logic and your qualifiers false.

...If you want to man-up and say 'that's stupid! We can still be certain even though there's a possibility of that pesky demon.' Then we can agree and move on. Are you courageous enough for that?

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In any case, you are inventing a problem here...unless you give an actual example of what you are talking about.

It's a very real problem some people have. I've given examples of (a) what I've found certain, and (b) things that are not absolutely certain. Hence, the dichotomy is real.

I'm bored, answer me these questions:

Are you certain that your children are in fact your children?

Are you certain that the speed of light travels faster than the speed of sound?

If you want to define your courage as more manly than mine...and more substantive...do so.

I think it to be a laughable proposition.

I am courageous enough to say "I do not know" when I do not know something."

For you to suggest you can say, "I am certain..."...and be courageous because you have not used absolutely certain, is a joke, Bloc. I hope I get the opportunity to show you the punch line. You will enjoy it.

In the sense you are asking that question, Bloc...I am not even sure light and sound exist. They may be an illusion. And if they exist, I am not sure they "travel" the way you are suggesting.

But living in the illusion, I am willing to accept that science has measured what appears to be light and sound; determined that they "travel" in waves of some sort; that they travel at different speeds; and that the speed light travels is much, much faster than the speed sound travels. I am willing to accept those items as reasonable...in order to live in what I consider the universe, whether it is an illusion or not.

Sorry you are bored. I am finding this interesting. It happens to be something I have discussed many times in this forum and the forum that preceded it. I always marvel when newbies come along and seem to think that they are proposing something never before considered by us (or the rest of humanity).

Quite a confused response.

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If you want to define your courage as more manly than mine...and more substantive...do so.

I think it to be a laughable proposition.

I am courageous enough to say "I do not know" when I do not know something."

For you to suggest you can say, "I am certain..."...and be courageous because you have not used absolutely certain, is a joke, Bloc. I hope I get the opportunity to show you the punch line. You will enjoy it.

Ah, quite a few ad homs but no mention of that pesky demon who keeps making you doubt stuff.

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In the sense you are asking that question, Bloc...I am not even sure light and sound exist. They may be an illusion. And if they exist, I am not sure they "travel" the way you are suggesting.

But living in the illusion, I am willing to accept that science has measured what appears to be light and sound; determined that they "travel" in waves of some sort; that they travel at different speeds; and that the speed light travels is much, much faster than the speed sound travels. I am willing to accept those items as reasonable...in order to live in what I consider the universe, whether it is an illusion or not.

A rather long and sloppy way of saying: I'm reasonably certain but not absolutely certain.

Quote:

Sorry you are bored. I am finding this interesting. It happens to be something I have discussed many times in this forum and the forum that preceded it. I always marvel when newbies come along and seem to think that they are proposing something never before considered by us (or the rest of humanity).

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Hm, no. I didn't think that I'm proposing something groundbreaking. It's a position called 'fallibilism', which arose due to epistemic uncertainty. Look it up.

I may be a newbie on these forums but it seems, judging by your confused and indirect responses, that you're the newbie when it comes to philosophy.

Your position as evidenced by your responses:

1. You're 'absolutely certain' that bachelors are all unmarried males - Post # 5,679,040

2. You get acquainted with the demon and acknowledge that 'such a thing is possible, [and] you're not absolutely certain all bachelors are unmarried men.' - Post # 5,679,056

3. But then you somehow revert back to thinking you're certain that all bachelors are unmarried males by including 'qualifiers' and asserting that 'most people don't care about absolute certainty.' - Post # 5,679,089

One word for you buddy: confused.

Actually, it was a very clear way of saying that I am not certain...and will not assert that I am.

If someone says, "I am certain there are no gods involved in the REALITY of existence"...that is no different from saying, "I am absolutely certain there are no gods involved in the REALITY of existence."

I think you are trying to create a problem...for which you will suggest you have a solution.

It's cute. Young people need that kind of thing to feel good about themselves.

Look up "honesty", Bloc...and try to practice some of it.

I did not say that at all. I said that "if we define bachelors as unmarried males"...then by definition, all bachelors are unmarried males.

Nice find! But I'll just swap them around and say:

all bachelors are unmarried men.

Are you certain now?

Absolutely certain!