Certeza

Certeza is a concept that can refer to the state of being certain or the confidence that a proposition is true. In epistemology, it often denotes the highest form of justified belief or knowledge, sometimes described as indubitable. The term derives from the Latin certus, meaning sure or certain, and is used in both philosophical discourse and everyday language.

Historically, the search for certainty has been central to rationalist and foundationalist theories of knowledge. René Descartes argued that a secure foundation for knowledge could be built through clear and distinct perceptions, beginning with the cogito, "I think, therefore I am." For Descartes, certainty arises from the reliability of reason when properly disciplined, serving as a bedrock for further knowledge.

Philosophical theories distinguish certainty from mere justified belief or high probability. Foundationalism holds that some indubitable propositions serve as basic beliefs from which others are derived. Alternative accounts, such as coherence theory or reliabilism, explain justification without requiring absolute certainty, instead focusing on internal coherence or the reliability of cognitive processes.

In mathematics and logic, certain truths are typically treated as certain given fixed axioms and rules. In empirical science, however, certainty is rare; scientists prefer terms like strong evidence or high probability and acknowledge revision in light of new data. Some modern positions, like fallibilism and Bayesian epistemology, view certainty as a matter of degree, continually updated by experience.

In everyday language, certeza also conveys confidence or assurance about a future event or claim, not necessarily tied to epistemic justification. The term is used similarly in Portuguese and Spanish, where it commonly means certainty or confidence.