The problem with our beliefs is that they’re often false. We assume we know many things, but upon closer examination, we find that our knowledge is riddled with errors and misconceptions. We go about our lives, confidently asserting truths, only to be confronted with evidence that contradicts our most cherished convictions.
Consider, for example, the beliefs we hold about justice, virtue, or the good life. Are these beliefs truly grounded in knowledge, or do they simply reflect the opinions we’ve absorbed from others? We may believe ourselves to be just, virtuous, or wise, but how often do we question the foundation of these beliefs? How often do we scrutinize them to see if they withstand the test of reason?
Let us examine a particular belief, and we shall see how easily it crumbles under the weight of inquiry. Suppose one believes that justice is the interest of the stronger, as some have claimed. But upon reflection, does this belief hold up? Does might truly make right, or is justice something more? The belief, once held with certainty, now wavers as we recognize the complexity of the concept and the inadequacy of our understanding.
This, my friends, is the danger of unexamined beliefs. We live by them, yet they may be false, leading us astray in our pursuit of truth. It is only through constant questioning, through the dialectical method, that we can approach the truth and expose the falsehoods lurking in our beliefs.
And here lies the crux of the matter: because my beliefs are often false, they cannot be counted as knowledge. And because I don’t know which of my beliefs are true, I cannot even consider those as knowledge. In fact, the only belief I know to be true is my belief that I know nothing.
