On Uncertainty’

‘On Uncertainty’ is included in Madeleine de Scudéry’s 1686 Moral Conversations [Conversations morales]. It stages a dialogue between characters described as ‘decisive’ (Amalthée, Amerinte, and their male friend, Aristene) and ‘uncertain’ (Timandre and his female friend Isidore), and explores the danger of too much uncertainty. The friends discuss how one threatening example of uncertainty is doubt that extends to faith; and atomism, both ancient and modern, is treated as an example of a doctrine which denies the existence of an intelligent and providential God in its promotion of the role of chance. The conversation allows for the exploration of different perspectives while also offering a Christian moral that primarily bases faith on reason. It also models a sociable, conversational approach to enquiry, mixing rhetorical prose on atomism and theology with playful poems about atoms. The conversation ends amiably with the group drawing up a list of things that are certain (faith, laws of the nation, obeying God and the King) and things that are not (physics, astronomy, medicine, all sciences, personal taste).