26
CERTAINTY
AND DOUBT: One never has doubts about one's
certainties, one has doubts for them. Without the intermittent prevalence of doubt,
what certainty could one be expected to have?
Am I not certain that I am a human being
with two arms, two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, and walk about on two
legs? Yes, of course I am! And do I not have doubts, from time to time,
about the future, the weather, my health, work, the nature of my dreams,
etc. Yes, of course I do!
But there are those who contend that we can
have no certainties, can never be certain about anything since, according to
them, certainties are merely illusory - a contention from which we ought to
conclude that doubts are, too! Yet isn't
the theory that we can have no certainties fundamentally a certainty? It definitely sounds like one anyway, even if
it happens to be false.
Whatever we hear, however, no matter how
fantastic, there are still many amongst us who firmly believe in the reality of
certainty and in the equally pervasive reality of doubt. And if one is to retain one's certainty, one
must assuredly know how to doubt! For the latter is, after all, the legitimate foundation upon which
the former is built.
So see to it, you certain men, that your
foundations are secure, else the 'doubters of certainty' may uproot your doubts
as well!