Doubt

Doubt ( Middle High German zwîvel, Old High German zwîval twîfla from Germanic, " double, split, double, double portion " ) is a state of indecision between several alternative assumptions, as opposite or insufficient reasons to no secure judgment or decision may lead. He is also interpreted as uncertainty regarding trust, action, decisions, faith or allegations or suspicions. To define the Duden doubt as " concerns, fluctuating uncertainty of whether someone someone's statement is to be believed, whether action, an action is right and good, if something can succeed or the like. " Skepticism (Greek skepticism = view; concerns to: sképtesthai = to look, peeking, look ), however, referred to concerns by critical doubts.

Rudolf Eisler's dictionary of philosophical terms defined in 1904:

" Doubt ( dubium, dubitatio ) is the ( emotionally characterized ) state of indecision, vacillation between several thinking motifs whose has none of the full excess weight, so that the mind can not be determined by objective reasons. During the skepticism (sd) makes the absolute doubt on the cognitive ability of man to the principle, consists of methodical doubt ( doute méthodique ) in the provisional doubting of everything that is not yet determined methodological and critical, seems secure. "

Etymology

The word doubt ( Old High German zwival, gothic Zweifls ) comes from the form of composition twi 'two', and the suffix -sity, which is etymologically equated with today's word fold. This led to the word meaning " ambiguous ". Skepticism particular concerns, distrustful caution 'is a takeover of Greek skepticism ( σκέψις ) ' contemplation, consideration, investigation ' to Greek sképtesthai ( σκέπτεσθαι ) ' look around, look around, peeking, look, consider, examine ', the first isolated in the second half of the 17th century and has been demonstrated since the 19th century is familiar. The adjective skeptical for ' doubtful, questionable, suspicious, cool deliberative ' in the 18th century by Greek skeptikós ( σκεπτικός ) ' reflecting, checking ' borrowed; the noun skeptic for someone ' who doubts has always suspicious reservations. Trailer or representative of skepticism were considered representative agnostizistischer philosophical directions since the 17th century. Since the 16th century this was called in German texts in the Latinized form Scepticus, early 18th century, the term was Germanized to skeptics.

Assessment

In the pre-Enlightenment values ​​order was doubt both as sin ( desperatio ) as well as evil and should be eliminated quickly and as a permanent condition leads to despair. Since the elucidation of the doubt was given an appreciation and has since been considered essential for sustaining cognitive progress. Epistemologists point out that the condition of the possibility of doubt the belief in ( a ) is true. In particular, Descartes raised the doubt as a philosophical method, which he postulated in his work Discours de la méthode.

After Charles S. Peirce - founder of pragmatisism - is " the thrill of doubt is the only immediate motive for the struggle for belief." By this is meant that the conviction causes an action that satisfies our desires. If another conviction occurs, just does not satisfy the requirements, then enters the doubt in action that rejects the unwanted belief, that is doubtful. That is why Peirce referred to, that the doubt a " discomfort and dissatisfaction " expresses what one wants to free himself, to go to the " peace and contentment " ( conviction ).

In the scientific, philosophical and practical thinking to the presence of doubt plays an important role, because he alone holds the mind in motion. Without doubt, no knowledge is possible.