[betty boop]

I think you are desparate to make knowledge uncertain. I cannot imagine why, but I think it is very dangerous. Why would you object to certainty in knowledge?

I'm trying to decoct your statement. Thought I'm not entirely certain of its meaning, I'll take my best stab at answering.

On the one hand, I am perfectly comfortable with the uncertainty of knowledge. It just reminds me that nothing is complete without God.

On the other hand, I have no objection in principle to the "certainty of knowledge." I just don't think it's possible, given that the human mind is finite.

Thus the assertion of "certain knowledge" is a pure abstraction to me, for it has no basis in actual reality that I can tell. The "empirical approach" demonstrates that the typical human situation involves having to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. This is seemingly the universal human condition.

And thus on the basis of observation and experience, I have no reason to believe that "the certainty of knowledge" is even possible.

[LeGrande]

Hank, yes we 'know' certain things. We know for a fact that birds can fly, that it rains, etc. etc. Anything that can be observed and even things that can't be directly observed can be known.

The problem is how precisely do we actually know and that is where the uncertainty comes in. If someone gives you a pound of Gold and a pound of rice. I think that I can confidently say that the pound of rice will be accurate to within an ounce and that the pound of Gold will be an accurate measurement within tenths of Grams. The problem is that we don't have a precise measurement of mass, we can only measure it to 10 digits, give or take a few.

It turns out that there is a level of uncertainty to everything, nothing can be known to an arbitrarily precise number. It turns out that things like Plank's constant set an absolute limit on what can be known. It is a very, very small limit I will grant you, but a lot of very small uncertainties do add up : )

[Hank Kerchief]

“On the one hand, I am perfectly comfortable with the uncertainty of knowledge. It just reminds me that nothing is complete without God.”

“And thus on the basis of observation and experience, I have no reason to believe that ‘the certainty of knowledge’ is even possible.

But, since the certainty of knowledge is not possible, your “knowledge” that there is God must be uncertain and you are therefore basing your source of comfort regarding uncertainty on something you cannot be certain exists, else...

You really do believe you can be certain about something. Right!

Hank