Certainty

This subject came up in another thread, and I wanted to give it its own thread.

The subject of being 100% certain of something was brought up in a thread about religion. It's my belief that we can never be 100% certain of anything. Everything that we think we know, we know because our brain has received a signal through one of our senses and has interpreted it according to how our brain functions and how we perceive things. All instruments - from measuring spoons, to clocks, to mass spectrometers are human invention, thus subject to our flaws. So, I think I exist, because my senses tell me that I do. But, since I am relying on my senses to determine this, I cannot be 100% certain that my senses are accurately functioning. Just because I sense and perceive something, that does not necessarily make it "reality".

Now, people will say "that's ridiculous! of course you're/I'm alive! I know it because I can touch things/feel things/think things etc."

So, I ask you this. Have you ever in your life misinterpreted one of your senses? Have you ever heard someone say something other than what they actually said? Have you ever had to read something twice because you saw a different word than was printed the first time? Have you ever thought you saw something in the corner of your eye, but when you looked it wasn't actually there? We "know" that we can incorrectly perceive "reality" because we've all experienced it happening. So, if we "know" that our senses are not 100% accurate 100% of the time, how can we "know" anything 100%? How can we be absolutely certain that our senses are perceiving "reality" exactly as it is, up to and including even our own existence?

We're relying on our senses to be fully accurate, and we "know" that they're not (they cannot be fully accurate if they fail even once).

Now, life is a matter of percentages. Not being 100% certain does not mean you have to be 0% certain. You can be anywhere in between. But, it is my contention that it is impossible to ever be 100% certain, or "know" anything. We think we know, and we do not have to throw what we perceive out the window (i.e. be 0% certain) - we all have to as a necessity of life function as though our assumptions (what our senses tell us) are more or less correct - but we need to remember that though there is, as far as our senses tell us, a universe out there physically separate from us (every object that is not us that resides in that universe), on another level, it also only exists within us - everything that exists outside of us is experienced by us through our senses (i.e. in our brain). If we could not sense/perceive it, it would not exist for us, whether or not it existed in physical "reality". So, since that experience is all "in our head" in a manner of speaking, we have to rely that that "head" (brain) is sensing everything accurately, as it exists in physical "reality". We "know" we cannot rely on that 100% of the time, so how can we be 100% certain that anything we believe IS what it actually IS?

Thoughts?

C.

I agree. I don't really have anything to add.

I'm 98% sure that you are reading my mind.

Quoting God:“ This subject came up in another thread, and I wanted to give it its own thread. The subject of being ... [snip!] ... rely on that 100% of the time, so how can we be 100% certain that anything we believe IS what it actually IS? Thoughts? C.”

That's kind of philosophical! I remember my philosophy class and he said something like there is always space between something, like your hand is not really holding that pencil. your certainty questions made me remember that.

I can tell you with 100% certainty that I love my children and there is nothing that will take that love away. If I'm going to be certain about anything, that is it.

Quoting God:“ This subject came up in another thread, and I wanted to give it its own thread. The subject of being ... [snip!] ... rely on that 100% of the time, so how can we be 100% certain that anything we believe IS what it actually IS? Thoughts? C.”

Reality is definitely personal and entirely subjective. I can't be certain of that though.

I'm 100% certain that I'm awesome.  
But to seriously answer your post, I don't think we can be 100% certain about anything. Science isn't certain. Religion isn't. I think certainty is all in one's own perspection.

Quoting God:“ This subject came up in another thread, and I wanted to give it its own thread. The subject of being ... [snip!] ... rely on that 100% of the time, so how can we be 100% certain that anything we believe IS what it actually IS? Thoughts? C.”

wow i never really thought that deep into it but what you are saying makes alot of sence to me. its confusing but it makes sence. so its kinda like colors. everything says trees are green so trees are really green but how do we know they arnt blue. is that kinda what you are getting at?

Quoting marinewifew/2:“ wow i never really thought that deep into it but what you are saying makes alot of sence to me. its confusing ... [snip!] ... says trees are green so trees are really green but how do we know they arnt blue. is that kinda what you are getting at?”

Yes, that would be another example.

C.

You always hit the nail on the head!

I have to thank Robert Anton Wilson for introducing me to these concepts.

C.

In all seriousness, what this short life of mine has taught me thus far is that I cannot rely upon anything to be 100% ever. Not memory, nor gut feeling, nor experience, and especially not religion. I do not believe in "faith", but I do believe in trust. That being said, trust will only get me so far in life, so I tend to look at each situation individually and live in the present.

Quoting mommyof2bellas:“ That's kind of philosophical! I remember my philosophy class and he said something like there is always ... [snip!] ... I love my children and there is nothing that will take that love away. If I'm going to be certain about anything, that is it.”

Everyone is probably going to hate me for saying this, but i believe love is a chemical reaction. I do love my children. But I also know that the feelings that I have are made up of different reactions in my brain. And I'm ok with that. It doesn't change the depth of my feelings or how I feel about the people that I love.

I am 100% sure my name is meagan ;)

I don't have a problem with people being 100% sure about things, if their senses tell them something, and they believe it or atleast say they do, thats fine. Pretty much everyone's beliefs are based on opinions anyway, so I can't really argue it, I can only have my own opinion and my own certaintys...certainties 

Quoting Mom-of-1:“ Everyone is probably going to hate me for saying this, but i believe love is a chemical reaction. I ... [snip!] ... in my brain. And I'm ok with that. It doesn't change the depth of my feelings or how I feel about the people that I love.”

I fully agree with that.

Quoting Mom-of-1:“ Everyone is probably going to hate me for saying this, but i believe love is a chemical reaction. I ... [snip!] ... in my brain. And I'm ok with that. It doesn't change the depth of my feelings or how I feel about the people that I love.”

Thats fine, all that matters is it is something. How ever it comes to be, is just. As long as its there. I just always accepted that science couldn't explain love, said cool, and moved on haha.