8. To what extent is certainty attainable?
Introduction:
(In exploring the question of certainty, we delve into the foundations and nature of human
understanding. This exhibition seeks to unravel the complexities surrounding certainty and assess the
various factors that influence our ability to attain it.) <“Theoretical Might Remove The Intro”>
Object 1. A picture of a Polygraph Machine (Lie Detector)
This polygraph was used to conduct a police investigation in 1989 and addresses the issues and
theories that people have had about lie detectors and their efficiency. When the lie detector was first
introduced, most believed that it was capable of telling the truth from lies with 100% efficacy and
certainty. “It is called a lie detector, after all.” However, during this interview and the many
interviews that followed it, it became more and more evident that the machine was not capable of
capturing what was considered absolute certainty.
This polygraph is especially interesting because of the ironic dilemma it portrays. Not only was
people's certainty of the capabilities of the machine swayed, but as a result, the certainty of the
machine that determines certainty was also swayed. The polygraph is interesting because the more
someone believes it will work, the more they panic. Polygraphs read the rhythm and the rate at which
the body pulsates. If one does not know this minute detail, they couldn’t possibly have thought to
control their pulse and nerves. If the information about how a polygraph worked wasn’t ever leaked,
its efficiency would be higher, making its ability to ascertain certainty and its overall reliability even
higher.
In addition to people knowing how a polygraph works, there is also another way in which someone
could cheat a polygraph. If they are psychotic, sociopathic, or even if they simply believe that an act
they performed is not something to feel wrong about, they can easily bypass the test. This leaves an
open question, “Is certainty only attainable when we are certain that it is, or is it only attainable when
it is always certain to a full extent?”
Object 2. Mirror
The mirror, a seemingly simple object, becomes a profound instrument when contemplating the extent
to which certainty is attainable. As one gazes into its reflective surface, the reflection offers an
immediate and tangible sense of certainty – a confirmation of one's physical presence. Yet, this
certainty is inherently limited. The mirror reveals only the surface, leaving the depths of thoughts,
emotions, and the intricacies of one's identity shrouded in uncertainty.
Certainty, when examined through the metaphor of a mirror, raises questions about the nature of selfawareness. Can we ever be entirely certain about who we are, or does our self-perception merely
scratch the surface? The mirror reflects not only physical attributes but also the subjective lens
through which individuals interpret their reflections. This introduces the idea that certainty is not
universal but is instead shaped by individual perspectives and biases.
Moreover, the mirror's portrayal of certainty is static, frozen in a moment. It captures an image that, in
reality, is in constant flux. Simultaneously, the certainty we seek in knowledge is subject to change as
new information emerges. In addition to that, the mirror rarely ever gives us an exact, accurate display
of how we genuinely look: first, because the mirror is always inversed; second, because the lens and
the convex of the mirror usually distort the reflection.
The mirror, therefore, becomes a powerful symbol for the limitations of certainty. It prompts us to
question the depth of our convictions, acknowledging that our understanding of ourselves and the
world is an ongoing process. As we confront the limitations of the mirror's reflection, we are
compelled to recognize the inherent uncertainty that accompanies the quest for certainty, both within
ourselves and in the vast expanse of knowledge.
Object 3. Plato’s Allegory of The Cave
Plato's Allegory of the Cave serves as a great analogy to examine the attainability of certainty. In the
allegory, prisoners are chained inside a cave, perceiving only shadows cast by objects behind them.
These shadows, a distorted reality, become the prisoners' sole certainty. The extent to which certainty
is attainable mirrors the prisoners' predicament, for their reality is limited to mere illusions.
The shadows on the cave’s wall represent the illusions of knowledge, similar to the illusions of
certainty in our understanding of the world. The prisoners' certainty is restricted to the shadows,
mirroring our limited perceptions that might not fully capture the complexity of reality. Plato suggests
that what we perceive as certain might be mere shadows of a deeper truth.
Moreover, the allegory introduces the idea that attaining certainty requires a transformative journey.
As one prisoner is freed and exposed to the outside world, the blinding light of the sun initially
overwhelms him. This moment symbolizes the discomfort and challenges associated with challenging
our preconceived notions and seeking a deeper understanding. It prompts contemplation on the role of
education and enlightenment in the pursuit of certainty. Plato argues that escaping the cave requires a
commitment to continuous learning and a willingness to question what one thinks one knows.
Plato's Allegory of the Cave contributes to this exhibition by underscoring the complexity of certainty.
It invites us to reflect on the shadows that shape our understanding and emphasizes the transformative
journey required to escape the confines of limited certainty. The allegory challenges us to transcend
the shadows and venture into the blinding light of deeper knowledge, acknowledging our perpetual
quest for certainty.
Conclusion:
The Polygraph, Mirror, and Plato's Allegory of the Cave collectively explore the complex nature of
certainty in the quest for knowledge. The polygraph symbolizes the human endeavor to ascertain truth
through technology, highlighting the challenges of achieving absolute certainty in communication.
The mirror, representing self-perception, underscores the subjective nature of certainty and the
limitations of fully comprehending the complexities of one's identity. Plato's Allegory of the Cave
illustrates the shadows of knowledge and emphasizes the transformative journey required to escape
limited certainties. Together, these objects complement the elusive, dynamic nature of certainty,
revealing its subjective and philosophical dimensions that constantly shroud our theory of knowledge.