Critical Comparison of the Inherent Validity of Certainty between Knowledge of Usul and Clifford's Ethics of Belief Theory

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
M.A. Amirmohammadi 1
M.A. Amirmohammadi 1
A.A. Jaefari Valani 2
1 Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Karaj, Iran
2 Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Motahari University, Tehran, Iran
10.58209/jpt.5.3.297
Abstract
The Usulian identifies three intrinsic features of certainty: the necessity to act upon it, its hujjiyat, and its kashfiyat. They argue that the necessity to act is based on the discovery of certainty, and hujjiyat is derived from its intrinsic essence. They consider denying hujjiyat as leading to infinite regress and view its removal as involving contradiction, an impossible obligation, and conflict with reason. They also regard kashfiyat as inherently intrinsic. However, Clifford asserts that certainty, as certainty alone, holds no value unless supported by sufficient evidence. Through examples, he demonstrated that even if individuals act according to their certainty, they are morally condemned without fairness and justice. This perspective challenges all three features of certainty; acting without evidence is mistaken, hujjiyat is invalid since certainty without evidence lacks rational and moral legitimacy, and kashfiyat is not intrinsic because certainty sometimes fails to reveal the truth. Thus, Clifford’s view prevails.

Keywords

Subjects

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Philosophical Thought
Volume 5, Issue 3 - Serial Number 19
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Pages 297-312

  • Receive Date 14 July 2025
  • Publish Date 22 June 2025