Uncertainty is Better than Certitude
5 min readMay 20, 2024
- No title captures the essence of this dilemma. How can we advance knowledge when we lack a fundamental understanding? How can we discuss anything if we can’t grasp the simple things we do every day? The foundation of our understanding is rooted in uncertainty, which can lead to opportunities, creativity, and expansion. Not knowing can be a powerful motivator for exploration and discovery. In creative fields, uncertainty often sparks new ideas. Artists, writers, musicians, like designers and architects, frequently start with a process that changes as they work. This process mirrors the human desire to discover significance through exploration and expression.
- In science, uncertainty is also an important part of progress. It drives the development of new theories and technologies. Accepting uncertainty leads to a more open and curious mind. Socrates reminds us that true wisdom lies in recognizing our ignorance. Each answer leads to more questions, opening up new possibilities for exploration. This is more than just finding answers; it’s about expanding what we know and can imagine. From this perspective, uncertainty is not just a gap in our knowledge but a bridge to future perspectives, promoting flexibility, adaptation, and innovation. It is a fundamental aspect of the human condition and the search for knowledge in all spheres of existence.
- Why not challenge complex intellectual discussions when fundamental concepts (such as matter, space, or causality) are not fully understood and are subject to interpretation and debate? Many ideas in science are difficult to understand, but they are important for learning and progress. For instance, the nature of matter is still a mystery, making the concept of causation complex and contested. Schools of thought are as divided today as they were in the past, with no consensus on the essence of causation. David Hume argued that causation is not an observable phenomenon but rather a mental habit formed by repeated experiences, an expectation or “feeling in the mind” rather than an inherent feature of reality. Immanuel Kant and Bertrand Russell echoed these sentiments, with Russell famously criticizing causal laws as relics. This perspective suggests that what we perceive as causation is shaped by our mental structures rather than objective reality.
- In architecture and urban design, a similar positivist determinism prevails, assuming causation as an objective reality. This overlooks the subjective, conscious nature of design processes. Just as science operates through human conventions, observations, and judgments, so too does design. It is an endeavor deeply embedded in human consciousness, reflecting cultural context and values. Scientific and design methodologies require reasoned judgments, not mechanical determinism. Recognizing this, we should embrace uncertainty and the preliminary conceptual stages in design, acknowledging that both fields are inherently human and subjective. This approach allows for a more flexible, adaptive, and ultimately more human-centered practice.
- In practical situations, scientists and engineers frequently use heuristic methods to make quick, effective decisions when faced with complex real-world difficulties, where an exhaustive approach might be impractical or impossible. While heuristics can lead to insights and advancements, they are also recognized for their limitations — they are not foolproof and can lead to errors or biases. However, their strength lies in their ability to provide a practical means for advancing knowledge and making decisions under conditions of uncertainty and incomplete information.
- In architecture and urban design, many questions and methods remain complex, akin to the challenges in astrophysics, quantum mechanics, or neuroscience. For example, consider whether the universe expands by stretching or creating space. The overwhelming evidence supports the expansion of the universe, but the mechanism — whether by stretching existing space or creating new space — is still debated. This cosmological question is connected to urban planning. Possibly, the universe expands by stretching space itself, not by creating new space like matter or energy. This reasoning can be applied to urban density, suggesting that increasing density through technology can create “new” urban space without physically expanding. For instance, someone solving banking problems from a 40th-floor hotel room on the other side of the world, without going anywhere, just using their smartphone banking app, illustrates how technology can create new urban spaces.
- The concept of space becoming “less dense” or “more abstract” as the universe expands is intriguing, but it’s important to clarify what we mean by “space” in cosmology. Space, in general relativity, isn’t a substance or material but the three-dimensional “fabric” in which objects and forces exist and interact. The expansion of the universe refers to the increasing distance between objects not bound by gravity, not adding more “stuff” to the universe but changing the metric that defines distances. This can relate to urbanization, where dense urban spaces can be considered full of possibilities, much like a vacuum in space.
- In the simplest case of a non-empty universe with a single point mass, space is curved according to the Schwarzschild geometry. Introducing rotation results in a more complex Kerr metric. The analogy to Kepler’s laws emphasizes how particle trajectories are dictated by the underlying geometry, whether in classical mechanics or general relativity. Kepler’s driving idea from the 16th century was that microscopic structures might behave similarly to observable structures in outer space.
- Science and philosophy both strive to understand the world, but they operate in different, sometimes overlapping, domains. Science provides explanations based on current evidence, while philosophy tackles deeper, abstract questions that science exposes but does not always resolve. This interplay makes the pursuit of knowledge both challenging and evolving. Uncertainty drives the design process much better than a mechanistic direct search for established truth.
- https://linktr.ee/gegeca
- Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to my books. If you purchase a book or read it through Kindle Unlimited, I’ll earn a commission or receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Please note that due to my location, Medium does not allow me to receive any direct earnings from the readership of my articles. Your support through purchasing or reading my books is greatly appreciated and helps sustain my writing.
- Design Meaning: Meaning Design by R. B. Assunção (tiogegeca)
Kindle Edition https://amzn.to/4bhMsrL Dive into the intricate relationship between design and meaning in this thought-provoking exploration. Perfect for anyone fascinated by how design shapes our experiences and interactions, this book challenges, inspires, and enlightens readers across disciplines. - Planning Philosophy: Philosophy Planning by R. B. Assunção (tiogegeca) Kindle Edition https://amzn.to/3WEX3sT Explore the interplay between philosophy and urban planning. This edition has been significantly revised and expanded, offering focused reflections on how planning philosophy and philosophy of planning shape our physical and social environments.
- Lições Solitárias: Arquitetura e Evolução das Ideias by R. B. Assunção (tiogegeca) Available in eBook and Print-on-Demand (Brazilian edition) https://amzn.to/3w5logB Dive into a reflective journey, where architecture meets the evolution of ideas. This book offers fresh perspectives on the materialization of projects, discussing project representations and processes enriched with the author’s drawings. Ideal for architects, designers, engineers, and anyone interested in urban planning and humanity’s progress.
- A PERSONALIDADE ARQUITETÔNICA DE OURO PRETO by R. B. Assunção (tiogegeca) Kindle Edition — Available only as eBook (Brazilian edition) https://amzn.to/3V2yCUM Embark on a unique journey through Ouro Preto with a guide that intertwines architectural insights with the rich historical tapestry of this iconic city in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This eBook expands into a dialectic exploration of Ouro Preto’s evolving identity, from its 17th-century origins to its present-day allure. This guide is not just about architectural styles but is a profound reflection on how architecture and urban planning encapsulate the soul of a place.
