Q&A: Certainty and Doubt
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Certainty and Doubt
Question
It happens to me many times, and I assume to you as well, that we think about a certain topic from another angle, are exposed to new information, etc., and as a result change our minds. Assuming all our beliefs are like this, how can one ever arrive at certainty and coherence in life if the awareness is always hovering there that our opinion changes a lot?
Answer
You cannot arrive at certainty, and you do not need to either. When you make decisions or formulate any positions, it is always done on the basis of your current knowledge and thinking. That may change in the future. So what? A judge has only what his eyes see.
Discussion on Answer
Indeed, nothing is certain. But doubt is not just something uncertain. Doubt means there is no advantage to either side.
But if the accumulated knowledge I have also includes the fact that many assumptions turn out not to be correct, then that should also affect the assumption before me now—that it is not certain—and therefore I should relate to every assumption as a doubt. Why is that not correct? Or is it?