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  • If we can't be certain of anything, how can anything be said to be certain?
    ↪Banno


    Is it certain that there is a belief that I am typing to you?

    But how can I myself be certain that belief is happening if might not exist.
  • If our senses can be doubted...why can't the contents our of thoughts too?
    ↪alleybear


    So if I have a thought of "I am watching a sunset"

    It would not be certain that I am watching a sunset (potentially inaccurate senses) BUT it would be certain that there is a belief of watching a sunset.

    The belief would be certain.
  • If our senses can be doubted...why can't the contents our of thoughts too?
    I'm still stuck on this idea lol.

    Our senses can be doubted.

    But if I 'experience' a thought, then it is certain that that exact thought is happening.

    Even if it is an hallucination, or I am a brain in a VAT, the exact thought would be certain?

    It wouldn't be possible to be thinking of anything else because there is no awareness of that happening?
  • If our senses can be doubted...why can't the contents our of thoughts too?
    ↪flannel jesus


    But even if the thought was about the external world, the thought would still be the thought?

    I mean: I think I am watching my laptop screen.

    Of course I might not be, my senses could deceive me.

    But despite understanding that my senses could deceive me, I still conclude that I am watching my laptop screen.

    The thought itself is certain.
  • If our senses can be doubted...why can't the contents our of thoughts too?
    ↪flannel jesus


    So if I have a thought of "I am replying to this person" - I might not be thinking that thought?
  • Do thoughts require a thinker?
    ↪Wittgenstein


    Agreed. But certainly of self? Or just of thought?
  • Do thoughts require a thinker?
    ↪Wittgenstein


    I may only think I have though. Equally I may not exist but the thought itself does?
  • I have anxiety over the fact I might not exist
    ↪fdrake


    But how wouud me believing I ate ascertain if it's certainly me existing. The thought may not be my own?

    Descartes didn't even prove the 'I' exists in the cogito?
  • I have anxiety over the fact I might not exist
    ↪fdrake


    But I could think I have eaten something and not have done. Equally, the 'I' that has eaten may be a character in a book and not real at all.
  • I have anxiety over the fact I might not exist
    ↪fdrake


    You say probably. What happens if that's not true?What if I'm not feeling anxious because I actually don't exist? There may be a way to think things without 'I' existing?
  • I have anxiety over the fact I might not exist
    Anyone help me?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    Anyone else have a thought on this?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪A Seagull


    So we can be certain of our existence as well as the exact content of our conscious thoughts at the time of their awareness.

    So is that beyond what Descartes meant by I think therefore I am?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪A Seagull


    I am sitting here with the awareness typing this reply. That single thought is therefore certain in that it is happening?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪Qwex


    How do you mean?

    If I am aware of a thought, how is it possible that it could be different then my awareness of the thought itself?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪Qwex


    So my thoughts, as I think them, are certian in what they are?

    No room for evil demon to alter them if I am aware of them?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪A Seagull


    That's exactly what I mean.
    If I have one thought in my head that I am conscious of, the context of that exact thought is certain.

    So we can be certain of our existence (because of the thought) and certain of the thought itself?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    Anyone else have an opinion on this?

    If I am aware of a thought, that exact thought is certain. If it were not certain in exactly how it was occurring to me, then it's existence (and therefore mine) could be doubted?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪Frank Apisa


    But you wouldn't need to be certain for the thought to be certain. Just you thinking the thought is in itself certainty?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    Anyone else have an opinion? I'm still confused!

    Is the thought I am having right now certain in how it is?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    So if I am consciously aware, this awareness would have to be exactly as it seems. Anything less and I'm not really aware.
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    But is it certain that the exact thought I am consciously aware right now is happening? Or could it be another thought entirely?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    Sorry, do you agree with my op?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    I mean, if I am consciously thinking right now that I am writing on this forum, that thought is certain?
  • Are the thoughts that we have certain? Please help clarify my confusion!
    ↪3017amen


    I'm not sure haha!

    If I am thinking a thought, that thought has to be certain.
    if that thought could be doubted, then so could my existence.
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    ↪leo


    Then this too represents certainty?
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    So if I'm aware of thoughts, then they must be occuring?
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    I'm still so confused lol.

    I still interpret my thoughts as potentially not even occuring.
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    One thing I struggle with is the fact that reasons and evidence for a particular position. These reasons and evidence are subjective.

    I could think of a thousand logical reasons why my thoughts are my own and are occurring. But what if this evidence is implanted, along with my false perception of thought?
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    So my thoughts are my thoughts?
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    ↪Andrew M


    That's confusing haha! What's the moral of the story?
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    ↪VagabondSpectre


    So what appears to be my thoughts right now, are indeed my thoughts? No chance that a Demon making me interpret them wrong or misunderstand?

    What if reason and evidence is mistook and false also? "
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    I'm happy with evidence and reasoning.

    I just struggle with the concept that my thoughts may not be my thoughts. Not in the sense that they belong to someone else, but that what I appear to think, I'm in fact not.
  • What can we be certain of? Not even our thoughts? Causing me anxiety.
    So if it seems that I'm thinking something, I'm thinking it. End of?
  • Skepticism...any way around it?!
    ↪Noah Te Stroete


    I'm not. I'm not a frickin' smart ass, I'm genuinely interest in this.

    Sorry if it's come across that way.
  • Skepticism...any way around it?!
    ↪Terrapin Station


    You've lost me, sorry.?
  • Skepticism...any way around it?!
    ↪Terrapin Station


    It would seem so, but I can't be certain that I am.
  • Skepticism...any way around it?!
    ↪Terrapin Station


    But what if we are all wrong and I am not?

    Can we say that beyond doubt?
  • Skepticism...any way around it?!
    ↪Noah Te Stroete


    Without certainty, it would seem so
  • Skepticism...any way around it?!
    ↪Terrapin Station


    Nothing certain about me asking these questions, you mean?

    Then, no, I'd agree, there is not.

    Where are you going with this aha?
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