On Certainty - Classic Text | Alexandria
On Certainty, a posthumously published collection of notes by Ludwig Wittgenstein, represents his final engagement with epistemology and the foundations of knowledge. It grapples with the nature of certainty, doubt, and the "hinge propositions" -- beliefs so fundamental that they underpin all of our reasoning. Is knowledge truly justified belief, or is something more basic, something less easily articulated, at its core?
The notes, written between 1969 and 1971 leading up to his death, were prompted by G.E. Moore's defense of common sense propositions, such as "Here is one hand," and "The earth existed for a long time before my birth." Wittgenstein’s exploration of these seemingly undeniable truths delves into the structure of our thought and the limits of what can be questioned. Moore presented these not as beliefs but as things he knew for certain. But did he really know them? The very act of defending such self-evident truths raises unsettling questions about the nature and scope of doubt itself.
Over time, interpretations of On Certainty have grown increasingly diverse. Some see it as a rejection of traditional epistemology, emphasizing the importance of context, practice, and language-games in shaping our understanding of the world. Others find in it a profound meditation on the limits of reason, highlighting the role of ungrounded commitments in our ability to make sense of anything at all. The work has influenced fields ranging from philosophy of science to religious studies, with some seeing it as offering a fresh perspective on faith itself. Consider, for example, the uncanny resonance between Wittgenstein's "hinge propositions" and unexamined assumptions shaping scientific inquiry. Could our most cherished scientific theories be similarly resting on foundations that defy rigorous justification?
On Certainty continues to challenge and provoke. Its open-ended nature and suggestive argumentation invite readers to confront their own assumptions and consider the fragile foundations upon which their worldviews rest. In an age of information overload and widespread skepticism, Wittgenstein's final work remains remarkably relevant, urging us to examine not just what we believe, but how we believe, and why certainties persist even in the face of uncertainty. Does the very search for certainty blind us to the more fundamental truths that lie beyond?