Lately, I’ve noticed that there have been a lot of search inquiries to the phrase “De Omnibus Dubitandum,” which so happens to be the title of this blog, and it has lead a lot of people here. To their misfortune, however, the meaning or translation of that phrase is nowhere to be found… until now.
De Omnibus Dubitandum means “All is to be doubted.” It’s Latin of course, and the phrase is attributed to Rene Descartes (1596-1650), the notable French philosopher.
I’m quite fond of the phrase because it serves as the foundation for those with a skeptical, independent, free, and inquisitive mind. Some of us have this by nature, an innate desire to demand proof and evidence before latching on to a belief system or ideology. In others, this desire needs to be cultivated.
Unfortunately, the struggle between society’s demanding of conformity and the individual’s desire to live freely causes great stress in the lives of all of us. That stress varies in intensity whereas some barely notice the symptoms while others develop a kind of neurosis. Regardless, doubt, doubt, doubt!
There is a danger that total scepticism doesn’t just doubt, but holds a refusal to accept evidence. There should be a happy medium between scepticism and belief. Don’t forget, most of Descartes ideas were prompted by a series of dreams. Good job he didn’t doubt them.
I think you’re confusing cynicism for an intellectual and healthy doubt. In my view, everything is to be doubted until the evidence proves with clarity the truth of a given idea. If someone doubts everything without working to discover truth, they are simply rebellious dissenters. The key is to doubt and become enlightened.
You’re speaking from a position of luxury. I do much research on the paranormal, and nearly always an answer can be found in a small extension of accepted psychology and sociology. But this is irrelevant to most ’scientific’ types. To them the subject is not worth study. If a subject sits uncomfortably within a particular paradigm, there is absolute denial, full stop.
You will never find the evidence of something unless you are prepared to look – and look at everything.
I’m not sure why you feel it’s necessary to use the paranormal as an example. Hopefully you’re not presupposing what my position is on it. In any event, when I say to doubt everything, I’m saying specifically to question/doubt everything in order to find truth. If someone investigates something and they find enough evidence to support a position, then by all means they should believe in it. However, it doesn’t mean that when we lock onto something, that we shouldn’t reevaluate that position frequently.
I felt it necessary to use the paranormal because I discovered this post on the paranormal tag. Can’t disagree with anything here, as such, but many supposed rational types do not share your attitude. A shame.
Came searching for the meaning of this phrase from the section ‘On the Prejudices of Philosophers’ in _Beyond Good and Evil_ by Nietzsche. You are the first Google entry.