Analyzing Peter Elbow's Perception

The words “certainty” and “doubt” have many varying connotations and implications given a specific context. Even though the definitions of these two words are considered polar opposites of each other, there is one connection between the two that is undeniable: both certainty and doubt can be taken with a grain of salt, as they are all merely just opinions specific to the person that those concepts are presented to. Adding on to that, there is also a concept relating to this; the idea that there is always “the certainty of doubt” and that they are merely two sides of the same coin.

By carrying out the method of doubt, we are able to free ourselves from all prejudices with the intention of being able to withdraw our mind from our senses. In doing so, we set a base for being able to decipher the truth from the falsity (Meditations, 39). The reasoning to doubt not only comes from the desire to learn the truth, but to “establish anything firm and lasting

In the pages of the bible one can find an early answer to an ancient debate. Jesus appears before Thomas whom had doubted Jesus’s existence and says, “Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are they who do not see, and yet believed.”(John 20:29). Jesus reveres those who were able to accept his existence without proof, while scorning Thomas for his doubt. The struggle between belief and doubt is seen throughout the course of history. The novel A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving also attempts to address the battle between these seemingly mutually exclusive principles. The novel centers around a boy named Owen Meany, who believes his future is predetermined for him by God. The protagonist is a man named John Wheelwright, who

In Peter Elbow’s essay “The Doubting Game and Believing Game” he discusses the two types of games that an individual can use to look for the truth in a situation. The Doubting game, is when an individual believes everything is false, and prove each assertion wrong, and the Believing game, is the process where an individual believes that all assertions are correct, and go over each one separately. With both games, there are certain rules that must be followed.

Every decision a person makes is based on some level of certainty, whether low or high. Certainty and doubt do not exist as opposites. The two ideas are based on level of belief, either low, in the case of doubt, or high, in the case of certainty. They exist as equals, both being able to lead to failure and success. One is not inherently better than the other; they both have the ability to lead to wild success or unfortunate defeat. To be either certain or doubtful, a person must have a strong belief about a subject; what that belief is does not matter as much as whether that belief is correct or inaccurate. Because they exist as equals, a decision between the two should stem from how strong the evidence is for each, and the strongest of this

If you have no good reason to think that your belief is true, then you cannot rationally maintain it. 4. REVISION. We cannot rationally maintain our evaluative beliefs. [2, 3]

The believing game requires commitment to seeking truth through evaluation whereas the doubting game seeks truth through elimination. Both processes depend upon self-involvement which is

According to the book From Critical Thinking to Argument by Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau, the term critical thinking means checking

philosophy. Socrates applied logical tricks in the search for the truth. Consequently, his willingness to call everything into question and his

The second point is when the person associates this faith to a positive feeling or as if them believing in whatever the idea is, is a virtuous act. The person’s belief becomes more and more cemented into their core beliefs, eventually becoming near impossible to dislodge from the person’s psyche. The text adds that the less evidence supporting the idea the more

Skepticism a Creditable Theory In Michael Philips article "Is Skepticism Ridiculous?", he focuses on the positive contribution skeptical arguments made to the philosophical community. Throughout the article, Philips demonstrates the credibility of skepticism by revealing its ability to provide a new perspective to philosophers and enthusiasts while emphasizing the impact skepticism places on philosophers and their theories. To begin with, Philip's suggests that Skepticism provides philosophers and everyday enthusiasts with a new and non-traditional perspective on our lives. Accepting skepticism and considering it while creating your own opinion and theory is proven to be helpful as it opens your mind. to Skepticism provides a new perspective and possibly allows you to further develop and better your own ideas. "

This section provides us with two selections from the essays of William K. Clifford (1845-1879) and William James (1842-1910). Clifford's essay, The Ethics of Belief, is based on the concept of evidentialism. This concept 'holds that we should not accept any statement as true unless we have good evidence to support its truth'; (Voices of Wisdom, 346). James wrote his essay, The Will to Believe, as a response to Clifford's essay where he endorsed a philosophy called pragmatism.

Critical thinking is the questioning of ideas. It is the process in which you take an argument and analyze it in order to conclude whether that argument is valid. Thinking critically is a good skill that can help others make intelligent decisions and helps them understand what to believe or not believe. Critical thinking is involved in our daily life. For example, every day we make decisions and before every decision we think critically if that is the right decision. We take into consideration the possible consequences of such decision and from that we reach a conclusion. Critical thinking involves disciplined thinking and it teaches you to think for yourself. It is personal growth and confidence that results from learning to exercise your mind to its fullest potential.

Chapter 2 discusses faith as visualization of, and belief in attainment of desire. It goes on to discuss faith as another word for "Absolute Confidence." When a person has faith in his beliefs then one can say that half of the battle to acquire success is won. Therefore, when faith is combined with the vibration of thought then the subconscious mind picks up the vibration, translates it into spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to infinite intelligence. Knowing how to develop faith is a method by which it does not already exist is very difficult to describe. Faith is a state of mind, which may be developed at, will after the thirteen principles, which can be mastered in this book.

Critical thinking means accurate thinking in the search of appropriate and dependable knowledge about the world. Another way to describe it is sensible, insightful, responsible, and skillful thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do. Critical thinking is not being able to process information well enough to know to stop for red lights or whether you established the right change at the supermarket.