Certainty: Is It Even Attainable?

It may sound like an avoidance of the question, but I find that certainty is only necessary when one wants to be certain, which is not very often. Life tends to be unpredictable as a rule. Thus, people have learned to accept knowledge that is less than absolutely certain. If certainty was often called for, progress would rarely be made. Science tests and retests theories and drugs in order to be as sure about findings as possible. However, certainty in the sciences seems unattainable. In the legal system, society often wishes to be as sure as possible about a verdict. Once again, indubitable truths are a far reaching goal. We live in a world of uncertainty. It is a part of being human. While certainty would be convenient at times, it is not necessary. We have been able as a species to progress immensely based on being relatively certain about truths and having faith in people. Descartes finds that in order to form anything lasting in the sciences he must tear down all his previous opinions in order to rebuild from the foundations of his knowledge and to ensure certainty. However, much has been found in the sciences without this certainty Descartes seeks. In actuality I am not fully convinced that absolute certainty exists. On the one hand, I am certain that 2 + 2 = 5, but on the other hand, I question what that means given that the number system was developed by man. I could say I am certain that I ate a bagel at brunch today, but what does that matter? I find that while one may be certain about simple facts, when it comes to general propositions in the world it may be unattainable. Attainable or not, however, I feel that certainty is not necessary.