So Matt, if I understand you correctly, we can be certain only of logical or mathematical propositions which can be proved logically, and which in some sense are trivial.Mattrose wrote:We may be using the term 'certainty' differently. I'm not sure.
I can't be absolutely certain, for instance, that there is a God. I believe I know God, but there is always the possibility that I am delusional. I can't even know for certain that everything I call existence is not part of some computer program like The Sims. I can't be absolutely certain that my wife is faithful b/c I'm not with her every moment of the day (and even if I was... I wouldn't know what's going on in her mind each moment).
I live based on things that I consider highly likely to be true based on Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience. The more important an area (faith, family, friends), the more factors there are involved. This makes absolute certainty impossible. I may be able to be certain that 1+1 equals 2. But, then again, who cares? It is only pretty much insignificant things that even come close to absolute certainty.
We have neither a priori certainty, nor a posteriori certainty. That is, there is no certainty based on direct perception apart from observation, nor is there any certainty based on experiential data, that is, there is no empirical certainty.
Do I understand you correctly?