In the nine years since [Robert] Harris’s novel [Conclave]…
![“In the nine years since [Robert] Harris’s novel [Conclave] was published our culture has, if anything, become more enamored with certainty, not less — which is really saying something. Ours is a culture, a society, that seems fantastically certain of certainty. Certainty rules our political…” quote by Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/9f9/junot-diaz-531_absolutism_in-the-nine-years-since-robert-harris-s_856251.jpg)
““In the nine years since [Robert] Harris’s novel [Conclave] was published our culture has, if anything, become more enamored with certainty, not less — which is really saying something. Ours is a culture, a society, that seems fantastically certain of certainty. Certainty rules our political discourse, an our-side-is-right-the-other-side-wrong absolutism that the internet helps to empower. As Warzel and Caulfield lamented in The Atlantic recently, ours is a culture “where every event — every human success or tragedy — becomes little more than evidence to score political points... It is a culture where you never have to change your mind or even confront uncomfortable information.” You don’t need to be Wittgenstein to recognize that certainty as a habit of the mind, as an epistemological reflex, ain’t been doing us any favors — not at the level of the individual or the society. Certainty is a state of final judgment — one might even say terminal judgment. Certainty is the opposite of curiosity and open-ness, and about the worst form of knowing there is because it brooks no discussion, no amelioration, no correction, no testing.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Certainty is portrayed as a cultural habit that stifles curiosity and open dialogue, leading to polarized discourse.
In simple terms: Certainty blocks open thinking.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate curiosity over certainty.
Themes
certainty
culture
politics
dialogue
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
social
media.
When to use this quote
- political debates
- online discussions
- education
- media consumption
Key Concepts
epistemology
social psychology
media influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies encourage uncertainty?
- What role does media play in reinforcing certainty?
A Different Perspective
Certainty can provide comfort and stability for some.