Certainty

 Just as people can find comfort in certainty, it seems that others can find comfort in uncertainty. Uncertainty can become a kind of certainty in itself. One could say they are certain of their uncertainty. Obviously, honesty is what we want, but can't one be honestly certain just as one can be honestly uncertain? Is there a greater virtue with uncertainty than certainty?  Does one have to be satisfied with uncertainty? Is it wrong to pursue certainty?  Can't one be just as proud about their uncertainty as a person who has certainty?  Certainty is just about being certain about something.  Certainty is being convinced. One can be convinced, that is certain, that the Earth is relatively round.  If one wants to argue that that is a fact and doesn't require faith, then what do you say about those who are certain the Earth is flat--because they do exist?  I do not have to be uncertain about whether the Earth is round just to avoid appearing arrogant. I am convinced that it's round, regardless of the arguments of the flat-earthers. I don't have to doubt my view.  I can consider their arguments, but I'm still certain of my view, until they give me some evidence to begin to doubt it. Certainty just means that you've been persuaded—that you've been convinced—that something is true. It may appear arrogant to some, but why does it have to be arrogant? You shouldn't have to apologize for being certain. Certainty doesn't mean you can't consider or investigate other viewpoints, but you don't need to doubt your own in order to do that.  You can ask others to consider a different viewpoint than what they have without expecting them to doubt their own first. One may not change their mind until they begin to doubt what they believe, but you don't have to ask them to doubt it—just ask them to investigate the alternate viewpoint. Of course, someone may not want to investigate another viewpoint, if they're convinced that their viewpoint is correct, so the only way you're going to get them to investigate is if you give them some evidence to make them curious to investigate a different viewpoint.