Very few things in this world are certain. One could go as far as saying that the only certainty is uncertainty. This is at least something I resort to stating, when I am (usually involuntarily) dragged into the depths of doubt and skepticism. It seems to me that philosophers more often than not are disposed to doubting and questioning the environment, and this could be both in the social, external sense of the word, or more internally, the inner environment of oneself. I think posing questions is healthy, but can easily, once one has hopped on the doubt-train, lead to doubting even the most fundamental pillars of our knowledge – namely, our own existence.

The question of existence is a popular one in philosophy. A classical example of someone questioning the nature of reality, and whether or not one exists, is René Descartes, who came to the conclusion cogito ergo sum – that he must be, because he thinks. He is infamous for doubting the existence of the external world, and saw this kind of skepticism as a dreadful, crippling state. The 20th century Middle Eastern philosopher Tabataba’i could have perhaps prevented Descartes from digging himself into a hole. Tabataba’i was an existentialist thinker, who did not see the point of doubting one’s existence. Even the basis of the idea seems absurd, as even doubting is an act of awakening, and therefore, of existence. Existence is indubitable, as it is all-encompassing. ”All of things lead us to believe that there is such a thing as existence”. Whether or not one exists is something that is quite pointless to reflect on, as one cannot lead a life of uncertainty. There has to be a foundation which allows for us to discern reality from unreality, and this foundation provides us with a suitable, demonstrative method: rational philosophy.