Certainty

The concept of certainty, as explored in philosophy, delves into the complex relationship between knowledge and conviction. Philosopher G.E. Moore, in his work, observed various ways the word "certain" is used, distinguishing between feeling certain and knowing for certain. He argued that for something to be certain, it must be known, suggesting that certainty is tied to knowledge and cannot exist without it.1

Moore also contended that while we have certain knowledge of basic propositions (like the Earth's existence), skeptical arguments cannot undermine this fundamental certainty. This perspective aligns with the philosophy of common sense, which posits that ordinary beliefs are reliable and form the basis for other knowledge claims.23

Ludwig Wittgenstein, however, proposed a different view, identifying certainty not with apprehension but with a form of acting. For Wittgenstein, a proposition is certain when its truth is presupposed in the social activities of a community, highlighting that certainty is rooted in our shared practices and "forms of life".14