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Single Idea 9807

[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty ]

Full Idea

In our search for the direct road towards truth we should busy ourselves with no object about which we cannot attain a certitude equal to that of the demonstrations of Arithmetic and Geometry.

Gist of Idea

In pursuing truth, anything less certain than mathematics is a waste of time

Source

René Descartes (Rules for the Direction of the Mind [1628], Rule II), quoted by Alain Badiou - Mathematics and Philosophy: grand and little p.8

Book Ref

Badiou,Alain: 'Theoretical Writings' [Continuum 2006], p.8

A Reaction

A beautiful statement of the way in which rationalist philosophy was founded on the model of mathematics (esp. Euclid), with all its concomitant problems. The most important concept of the last hundred years may well be fallibilist rationalism.

The 34 ideas with the same theme [possibility or necessity of certainty in knowledge]:

389 How can you be certain about aspects of the world if they aren't constant? [Plato]
1673 Knowledge proceeds from principles, so it is hard to know if we know [Aristotle]
23175 The conclusions of speculative reason about necessities are certain [Aquinas]
22129 Certainty comes from the self-evident, from induction, and from self-awareness [Duns Scotus, by Dumont]
9090 Knowledge is certain cognition of something that is true [William of Ockham]
24019 If we accept mere probabilities as true we undermine our existing knowledge [Descartes]
9807 In pursuing truth, anything less certain than mathematics is a waste of time [Descartes]
1583 In morals Descartes accepts the conventional, but rejects it in epistemology [Roochnik on Descartes]
1585 Descartes tried to model reason on maths instead of 'logos' [Roochnik on Descartes]
1582 Labelling slightly doubtful things as false is irrational [Roochnik on Descartes]
2256 Maybe there is only one certain fact, which is that nothing is certain [Descartes]
3657 Understanding, not the senses, gives certainty [Descartes]
17193 True ideas intrinsically involve the highest degree of certainty [Spinoza]
21863 You only know you are certain of something when you actually are certain of it [Spinoza]
17199 A man who assents without doubt to a falsehood is not certain, but lacks a cause to make him waver [Spinoza]
15995 The greatest certainty is knowing our own ideas, and that two ideas are different [Locke]
12562 General certainty is only found in ideas [Locke]
15994 If it is knowledge, it is certain; if it isn't certain, it isn't knowledge [Locke]
13006 Certainty is where practical doubt is insane, or at least blameworthy [Leibniz]
21772 In absolute knowing, the gap between object and oneself closes, producing certainty [Hegel]
14858 Being certain presumes that there are absolute truths, and means of arriving at them [Nietzsche]
4487 A note for asses: What convinces is not necessarily true - it is merely convincing [Nietzsche]
22867 The quest for certainty aims for peace, and avoidance of the stress of action [Dewey]
21516 We want certainty in order achieve secure results for action [Dewey]
9636 My theory aims at the certitude of mathematical methods [Hilbert]
5936 Knowledge is superior to opinion because it is certain [Ross]
23073 Convictions are failures to study anything thoroughly [Cioran]
23078 Opinions are fine, but having convictions means something has gone wrong [Cioran]
5183 Only tautologies can be certain; other propositions can only be probable [Ayer]
2745 A pupil who lacks confidence may clearly know something but not be certain of it [Dancy,J]
3582 Propositions make error possible, so basic experiential knowledge is impossible [Williams,M]
2736 We can make certain of what we know, so knowing does not entail certainty [Audi,R]
6351 Most people now agree that our reasoning proceeds defeasibly, rather than deductively [Pollock/Cruz]
6374 To believe maximum truths, believe everything; to have infallible beliefs, believe nothing [Pollock/Cruz]