Certainty is unreachable from "summary" of A Treatise of Human Nature: Texts by David Hume
The human understanding is limited in its capacity to attain absolute certainty. We are confined within the bounds of our own perceptions and experiences, which are inherently subjective and fallible. Even our most basic beliefs and principles are founded upon a fragile foundation of sensory impressions and mental associations. As such, our knowledge is always tentative and provisional, subject to revision and skepticism. We may strive for certainty by seeking out evidence and reasoning in support of our beliefs, but we can never eliminate all doubt or uncertainty. Our cognitive faculties are imperfect and prone to error, leading us astray with illusions and false conclusions. We may be confident in our judgments and convictions, but we must always acknowledge the possibility of error and the limitations of our understanding. The pursuit of certainty is a noble endeavor, but it is ultimately a futile one. We may approach the truth through empirical investigation and logical reasoning, but we can never grasp it with absolute certainty. Our knowledge is always mediated by our subjective perspectives and cognitive biases, rendering certainty an elusive and unattainable goal. In the face of uncertainty, we must embrace humility and skepticism, recognizing the fallibility of our beliefs and the limitations of our understanding. We must remain open to new evidence and alternative perspectives, constantly questioning and reevaluating our assumptions and conclusions. In doing so, we may come closer to the truth, even if we can never reach it with absolute certainty.
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