“Be innocent of the knowledge”: The Fragility of Skepticism in Macbeth
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This article aims to study the fragility of skepticism in Shakespeare’s Macbeth by illuminating the protagonist’s gradual intellectual decline, which stems from his departure from skepticism. Focusing on Macbeth’s encounters with key skeptical moments in the play, it argues that his downfall is largely due to his inability to resist cognitive urges and confirmation bias, as well as his failure to embrace epistemological modesty—the lingering sense of uncertainty that prompts one to suspend judgment rather than act precipitously. Instead of providing a broad overview of the historical and theoretical backgrounds of Shakespeare’s skepticism, the article carefully traces Macbeth’s choices in the face of radical uncertainty, examining how his avoidance of cognitive disorientation ultimately backfires, depriving him of a tragic grace that goes unappreciated in the end. The primary purpose of this article is to outline the distinguishing features of Shakespeare’s skepticism: 1) its sympathetic and critical engagement with the precarious nature of truth, which is often both excruciating and relentless; 2) its rejection of dogmatic complacency based on groundless certainty; and 3) its endorsement of epistemological modesty and acceptance of uncertainty, both of which would transform a sense of weakness into a source of strength and a foundation for cognitive abundance, albeit at the cost of tranquility.
Abstract
This article aims to study the fragility of skepticism in Shakespeare’s Macbeth by illuminating the protagonist’s gradual intellectual decline, which stems from his departure from skepticism. Focusing on Macbeth’s encounters with key skeptical moments in the play, it argues that his downfall is largely due to his inability to resist cognitive urges and confirmation bias, as well as his failure to embrace epistemological modesty—the lingering sense of uncertainty that prompts one to suspend judgment rather than act precipitously. Instead of providing a broad overview of the historical and theoretical backgrounds of Shakespeare’s skepticism, the article carefully traces Macbeth’s choices in the face of radical uncertainty, examining how his avoidance of cognitive disorientation ultimately backfires, depriving him of a tragic grace that goes unappreciated in the end. The primary purpose of this article is to outline the distinguishing features of Shakespeare’s skepticism: 1) its sympathetic and critical engagement with the precarious nature of truth, which is often both excruciating and relentless; 2) its rejection of dogmatic complacency based on groundless certainty; and 3) its endorsement of epistemological modesty and acceptance of uncertainty, both of which would transform a sense of weakness into a source of strength and a foundation for cognitive abundance, albeit at the cost of tranquility.