My Doubts and Fears

I have been feeling very uneasy and dissatisfied lately. In one of the pieces I am reading by Peirce, I read a quote that stated: "Doubt is an uneasy and dissatisfied state from which we struggle to free ourselves and pass into the state of belief; while the latter is a calm and satisfactory state which we do not wish to avoid, or to change to a belief in anything else. On the contrary, we cling tenaciously, not merely to believing, but to believing just what we do believe" (Peirce, 1877, 5). This passage really spoke to me, as I believe it characterizes what I am feeling given the current circumstances I am in. I was definitely in the mind set of doubt, as I was not confident that my family and I will survive if we stay in Syria. I feel that I must take steps towards dissolution of this doubt.

Because of these doubts, I  was motivated to inquire. I began to think that the lives of my family would improve if we were able to get to a safe place. According to Peirce, I am experiencing the "irritation of doubt [...] [and] struggling to attain a state of belief" (Peirce 1877, 5). I have been working hard to settle this inquiry and develop an opinion, so I can finally rid myself of doubt. In my readings, I was impacted by another one of his quotes that read "With the doubt, therefore, the struggle begins, and with the cessation of doubt it ends. Hence, the sole object of inquiry is the settlement of opinion. We may fancy that this is not enough for us, and that we seek, not merely an opinion, but a true opinion. But put this fancy to the test, and it proves groundless; for as soon as a firm belief is reached we are entirely satisfied, whether the belief be true or false" (Peirce 1877, 5). Peirce's writing has helped me understand the processes my mind is going through.

I have developed a firm belief that my family and I will not be able to survive in this war-ridden environment. Our lives will be too difficult if we stay in Syria, and I firmly believe that we must leave. According to Peirce, a belief is a calm and satisfactory state. Our beliefs guide our actions and desires, while governing our values and future activities. I feel very strongly that we must flee from Syria, Peirce might say I am very tenacious in my belief. I am satisfied knowing that I have attained a dissolution to my previous doubts. Peirce wrote "we cling tenaciously, not merely to believing, but to believing just what we do believe" (Peirce 1877, 5). I can really connect to this passage as I am set in my beliefs that my family and I must leave Syria in search of a better life.

Peirce has taught me that a habit is a pattern of behaviour that is formed and maintained through absolution, force, adaptation, or the interpretation of belief. A habit can be defined as an action, or an "establishment in our nature" (Peirce 1877, 17). A habit comes as a result of the belief that is derived from our thoughts regarding our doubts. I can also connect to this piece of Peirce's writing as I have come to a decision that my family and I will flee Syria. My belief that we would be unable to live safely and happily here has been the main influence on my development of this habit.

Finally, Peirce wrote "so it is with every belief, according to its degree. The feeling of believing is a more or less sure indication of there being established in our nature some habit which will determine our actions" (Peirce 1877, 5). I feel that this quotation is effective in explaining my reasoning for the habit I will be taking on.

Things have begun to worsen here in Syria. The conflict here is worse than ever, and there is no end in sight. I have nowhere to go, but we can't stay here. My family will suffer, and I don't want my children to grow up in a place like this. I love Syria, but it has become far too dangerous. The photo I have included this week is a photo of my beautiful family. I will do anything to keep them safe, and I think the best thing to do is to get them out of here.