The Necessity of Doubt

[Molly Brogan]

Doubt is the subjective condition that belongs to mind which judges the facts, where the mind is suspended between two or more propositions and is not able to assent to any of them. Is doubt necessary to our attainment of knowledge and aspiration to a higher consciousness? Or is it a limitation to these, leaving us in mistrust, suspicion or uncertainty and without belief? Is doubt necessary? Does it exclude faith?

Aristotle believed doubt to be preliminary to philosophical inquiry and the only means by which the necessary removal of prejudice may be effected. Bacon believed that the scholastic proof of a proposition or thesis begins by the statement of doubts or contrary arguments.

Thomas Huxley gave the name agnosticism to the state: “of being strictly doubtful towards all that lies beyond sense-experience.” Pragmatism regards all reality as doubtful, and truth as perpetually changing with the progress of human thought.

What do YOU think?

[Arthur E Gregory]

Well there is the process we have even today in science that involves (1) thesis... (2) antithesis and (3) synthesis and it all involves I believe faith and doubt as part of the process.

You have faith that you are correct and propose an argument a proposition..

Someone else comes who has equal faith that their proposition is correct offers a counter proposal.."to set against, oppose"

A third person looks at both sides and proposes a "synthesis" or a conmbination of the attributes of both the thesis and antithesis..

this is how things can move along and we can expand knowledge and gain insight.

Most people are probably only familiar with one side or the other of an argument and don't consider the other persons point of view and also are not aware that there can be a synthesis of both points of view!

[Arthur E Gregory]

After my post it dawned on me (a veritable "Aha!" experience) like one of the blind men in the ancient parable and this is the Jaina version:

Six blind men were asked to determine what an elephant looked like by feeling different parts of the elephant's body.

The blind man who feels a leg says the elephant is like a pillar;

the one who feels the tail says the elephant is like a rope;

the one who feels the trunk says the elephant is like a tree branch;

the one who feels the ear says the elephant is like a hand fan;

the one who feels the belly says the elephant is like a wall;

and the one who feels the tusk says the elephant is like a solid pipe.

A wise man explains to them:

"All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently is because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all the features you mentioned."

(This is the Synthesis of the process)

This resolves the conflict, and is used to illustrate the principle of living in harmony with people who have different belief systems, and that truth can be stated in different ways (in Jainist beliefs often said to be seven versions).

This is known as the Syadvada, Anekantvad, or the theory of Manifold Predictions.

[Mark Newbold]

I concur completely with your observations. Doubt is the handmaid of truth and the adversary of blind faith. Theosophy was founded upon freethought principles. To know thyself is to think for oneself and depend on no outside authority. Krishnamurti's remarks on the dissolution of the Order of the Star in the East so beautifully summed this approach up & created a new era of self enquiry along the esoteric path. The Hegelian dialectic that Arthur Gregory mentions is the way humans acquire knowledge through analysis of the data available to us in light of personal experience.

Knowing & doubt are not mutually exclusive. Dr. Stephan Hoeller as said that he does not give a fig for what one believes, but rather in what one has faith in. Faith should be the wisdom of life sought through experience and tempered by doubt. The Jains have the wonderful expression, "Reverence for all of life, relativity in thinking."

[Arthur E Gregory]

Etymologically "doubt" is derived from "Deva" and "Devil"

Hey there "Maitreya" are you really sure about that ?

See:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doubt

[Jeff Zolkes]

I simply couldn't agree more, Molly. Thank you for sharing your refreshing insight and intellect, essential tools in the differentiation between spiritual reality and mind-born delusion, and all too often forgotten...

[Jeff Zolkes]

another thought... in this realm of maya, where everything is temporal and impermanent, and therefore, illusory, it only stands to reason to employ doubt in even our most profound realizations, lest we think we've 'figured it all out' and cease to grow...

[Vincent]

Doubt means that you have been lied to.

We can know the world through are own experiences, this is empiricism which is science. It is also best to find the truth about religion through your own experience.

Does god exist?

Ask him.

If you can't ask you will never know.

[Janeth]

>"..Is doubt necessary to our attainment of knowledge and aspiration to a higher consciousness?"<---I would say, 'yes'.

>"..Or is it a limitation to these, leaving us in mistrust, suspicion or uncertainty and without belief?"<---I would say, 'no'.

>"..Is doubt necessary?"<---I would say, it is most definitely necessary! Knowing when 'it' ("doubt") is necessary, that in itself is an art. I would say lots of knowledge, intuition and wisdom is a must in determining when 'doubt' is an asset or a hindrance in our spiritual pilgrimage and pursuit of truth!

>"..Does it exclude faith?"<---I would say, no. Faith is a very important factor in determining the degree of "doubt"!

"Doubt" is to you what your personal level of evolvement is at a particular moment in time.

[Jeff Zolkes]

"The wise man doubteth often, and changeth his mind; the fool is obstinate, he knoweth all things but his own ignorance" ~ Akhenaten

[Jeff Zolkes]

"Faith is the permission that religious people give each other to believe things strongly when reasons fail." ~ Sam Harris

[Robert Edward Fahey]

Have been reading Jinarajadasa's intro / explanations of CWL's letters from the Masters when Leadbeater first joined the TS. They show how The Masters can not order us to do this or that, but may set challenges before us that we must work through our own doubts, false beliefs, and misinterpretations to conquer. These are necessary steps to developing dependable intuition, and clear-seeing intuition is necessary for us to work through into spiritual faith.
My life has been both guided and thwarted by doubt; but I see this as healthy to the extent that we each can find the beauty of the stars within our own dark skies.
Am actually writing a book about that now.
Faith can lead us just as far astray as can doubt; neither must remain eternal cul-de-sacs or deadends.

[Molly Brogan]

"clear-seeing intuition is necessary for us to work through into spiritual faith"

I like that very much. Thanks.