THREE CHEERS FOR DOUBT

Marxist viewpoint posits a perfectible human nature when he says that one should doubt everything. In fact it is doubt toward received knowledge that has played the most important role in the history of knowledge(wisdom?) production.

We all know about the philosopher Pyrroh of Elis(C.360-270 BC), the founder of what subsequently was known as Pyrrhonism-philosophic doubt; skepticism. He is credited with arguing that happiness comes from suspending judgement because certainty of knowledge is impossible. He lived for 90 years ;but did not write a single word. It is because he lived by his philosophy. He believed that nothing is fit to be immortalized in ink. Maybe since you cannot have the final word on the matter.

Let me introduce you to an anecdote involving Pyrroh.

Once in an afternoon Anaxarchus of Abdera, also a philosopher fell into a ditch. Precisely at the same time Pyrroh went past him with no effort to rescue him. But later on Anaxarchus was taken out of the ditch and every one blamed Pyrroh for his indifference. Do you know what Pyrroh said in his own defense? 'I am not sure Anaxarchus would be better off in the ditch or out of it'! He said. Annaxarchus himself was extremely impressed by Pyrrho's sangfroid.

Sextus Empiricus was a philosopher and a physician. He has written on Pyrrhonism and his chief argument is that skepticism has beneficial effect on the practitioner'by giving him tranquility of the soul'. (There was no dizepam or alprozolam that time for him to prescribe).

Now let us come to our own Socrates. He said:'All I know is that I know nothing' . Sanches( A Portuguese philosopher)on the other hand said:'I don't even know if I knew nothing'.

In case of Socrates he doubts his own knowledge. And in case of Sanches he doubts his own doubt. The height of one's doubt.

It is said earlier that doubt has continually produced knowledge. Those among us who who are cocksure(and hen sure) about their views and opinions, will do well to remember Socrates,Sanches and Pyrroh at regular intervals.