Kantian meditation

[timelets]

The usual test, 
           whether 
                that which 
any one maintains 
        is merely his 
                    persuasion, 
or his subjective 
              conviction at least, 
      that is, 
                his firm belief, 
is a bet. 

It frequently happens 
                 that a man delivers 
his opinions with 
             so much boldness 
                        and assurance, 
that he appears to be 
                  under no apprehension 
as to the possibility of 
                    his being 
                            in error. 

The offer of a bet 
                 startles him, 
and makes him 
           pause. Sometimes 
                       it turns out that 
his persuasion 
         may be valued
                     at a ducat,         
but not at ten.
 
For he does not hesitate, 
                     perhaps, 
to venture a ducat, 
                but if it is proposed 
to stake ten, 
            he immediately 
                      becomes aware 
of the possibility 
             of his being mistaken — 
a possibility which has hitherto 
              escaped 
                     his observation. 

If we imagine to ourselves that we have to stake the happiness of our whole life on the truth of any proposition, our judgement drops its air of triumph, we take the alarm, and discover the actual strength of our belief. Thus pragmatical belief has degrees, varying in proportion to the interests at stake.


---- Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Pure Reason.