Behaviour Quote by Rene Descartes
“... moral certainty is certainty which is sufficient to regulate our behaviour, or which measures up to the certainty we have on matters relating to the conduct of life which we never normally doubt, though we know that it is possible, absolutely speaking, that they may be false.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Discourse on the Method by René Descartes, 1637
Moral certainty is a level of confidence sufficient to guide actions, even though it may be mistaken.
In simple terms: We act on strong convictions, though they could be wrong.
Key Takeaway
Question your convictions.
Themes
certainty
morality
reason
philosophy
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- decision making
- ethical dilemmas
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
epistemology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs do you hold without doubt?
- How do you test the robustness of your convictions?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on certainty can blind us to new evidence.
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