# uncertainty

> situation which involves imperfect and/or unknown information, regarding the existing state, environment, a future outcome or more than one possible outcomes

**Wikidata**: [Q13649246](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13649246)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/uncertainty

## Summary
Uncertainty is a situation involving imperfect or unknown information regarding the existing state, environment, a future outcome, or more than one possible outcome. It functions as a broad concept encompassing various states of doubt, lack of knowledge, and unpredictability across different fields. The concept is also referred to by the alias "doubtfulness" and is distinct from quantifiable risk.

## Key Facts
- **Definition**: A situation characterized by imperfect and/or unknown information about the current state, environment, future outcomes, or multiple possible outcomes.
- **Alias**: Also known as "doubtfulness."
- **Classification**: It is an instance of a mental state and is part of the entity Q77468620.
- **Subclasses**: It is a superclass of Q86923152 and Q3968640.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: The entity has a Wikipedia sitelink count of 51.
- **Dewey Decimal Classification**: Categorized under 003.54.
- **Library of Congress Control Number**: sh85139563.
- **MeSH ID**: D035501.
- **GND ID**: 4186957-6.
- **BNF ID**: 125678860.
- **BabelNet ID**: Q185809878, Q2994224358.
- **NARA ID**: 137173.
- **NCL ID**: 137173 (Note: P2004 and P2347 both map to 137173 in source, verify context if possible, but listing as provided).
- **Iconography**: Associated with the image file "Dive hand signal Dont know 1.png".
- **Related Concepts**: Strongly associated with ambiguity, randomness, Knightian uncertainty, the uncertainty principle, measurement uncertainty, and the fog of war.

## FAQs
**What is the difference between uncertainty and risk?**
Knightian uncertainty represents a lack of any quantifiable knowledge about a possible occurrence, distinguishing it from risk, which implies the presence of quantifiable probabilities.

**How does uncertainty relate to ambiguity?**
Ambiguity is defined as a specific type of uncertainty regarding meaning, where several interpretations are plausible.

**In what fields is uncertainty a significant concept?**
Uncertainty is a fundamental concept in quantum physics (uncertainty principle), metrology (measurement uncertainty), military operations (fog of war), and general epistemology (agnosticism).

**What are the identifiers used to catalog uncertainty?**
Uncertainty is cataloged using numerous standard identifiers including the Dewey Decimal number 003.54, Library of Congress number sh85139563, and MeSH ID D035501.

## Why It Matters
Uncertainty is a foundational element in decision-making processes, scientific measurement, and philosophical inquiry. It defines the boundaries of what can be known or predicted, influencing everything from quantum mechanics, where it limits the precision of simultaneous measurements, to military strategy, where it describes the chaos of operations (fog of war). By distinguishing between known risks and fundamental ignorance (Knightian uncertainty), it provides a critical framework for understanding the limits of human knowledge and the reliability of information.

## Notable For
- **Fundamental Physics**: Being the central subject of the uncertainty principle in quantum physics.
- **Metrology**: Defining measurement uncertainty as a parameter characterizing the dispersion of quantity values.
- **Epistemology**: Encompassing agnosticism, the view that the existence of God or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable.
- **Military Theory**: Describing the "fog of war," the uncertainty experienced during military operations.
- **Distinct Types**: Being categorized into specific forms like Knightian uncertainty (fundamental ignorance) and ambiguity (plurality of meaning).

## Body

### Definition and Core Characteristics
Uncertainty is defined as a situation involving imperfect and/or unknown information. This pertains to the existing state, the environment, a future outcome, or the existence of more than one possible outcome. It is a state of mind or a condition characterized by a lack of definitive information. The entity is also identified by the alias "doubtfulness."

### Hierarchical Relationships and Types
The concept of uncertainty serves as a parent or related category to several specific types and states of being:
*   **Knightian Uncertainty**: This represents a lack of any quantifiable knowledge about some possible occurrence. It is distinct from risk, indicating a fundamental degree of ignorance, a limit to knowledge, and essential unpredictability.
*   **Ambiguity**: A type of uncertainty specifically concerning meaning, where several interpretations are plausible.
*   **Randomness**: Describes an apparent lack of pattern or predictability in events, closely linked to the concept of uncertainty.
*   **Mental State**: Uncertainty is classified as a state of mind of a person.

### Scientific and Technical Contexts
Uncertainty manifests in specific technical and scientific domains:
*   **Uncertainty Principle**: A fundamental principle in quantum physics.
*   **Measurement Uncertainty**: A parameter used to characterize the dispersion of quantity values of a measurand.
*   **Fog of War**: Describes the specific uncertainty experienced in military operations.

### Academic and Philosophical Connections
The concept is deeply embedded in academic and philosophical structures. It is associated with "academic discipline" and "field of study," serving as a subject of specialization. Philosophically, it connects to **agnosticism**, the view that the existence of God or the supernatural are unknown or unknowable.

### Metadata and Identifiers
Uncertainty is extensively cataloged across global knowledge bases and classification systems with the following identifiers:
*   **P227 (GND)**: 4186957-6
*   **P244 (LCCN)**: sh85139563
*   **P268 (BNF)**: 125678860
*   **P373 (Commons Category)**: Uncertainty
*   **P486 (MeSH)**: D035501
*   **P508 (NKC)**: 47789
*   **P646 (Freebase ID)**: /m/0h3d8
*   **P672 (MeSH Tree ID)**: E05.318.740.600.900, F02.463.785.373.820, G17.680.875, N05.715.360.750.625.850, N06.850.520.830.600.900
*   **P691 (NKL)**: ph202918
*   **P1036 (DDC)**: 003.54
*   **P1256 (Iconclass)**: 52BB41
*   **P1617 (ISNI)**: 458c2602-3352-4955-a671-44eca3a7f1b3
*   **P2004 (NARA)**: 137173
*   **P2347 (NCL)**: 1722
*   **P2919 (Image)**: Dive hand signal Dont know 1.png
*   **P3417 (NLA)**: Uncertainty
*   **P3827 (NLI)**: uncertainty
*   **P6366 (BabelNet)**: 185809878
*   **P8189 (VIAF)**: 987007560937405171
*   **P8370 (NSK)**: 1006769
*   **P8408 (BNF)**: Uncertainty
*   **P8814 (WordNet 3.1)**: 04764142-n
*   **P9272 (BNE)**: 37587
*   **P10283 (BabelNet)**: C185809878, C2994224358
*   **P10565 (LCCN)**: 90756, 350472, 191648
*   **P11093 (TA98)**: belirsizlik
*   **P12086 (SWD)**: Onzekerheid
*   **P12596 (LIR)**: 141399
*   **P13591 (LoC)**: concept/5b2bda31-9ef6-479b-9a4a-e98bcb9a3af3

### Classification and Structure
Structured data properties indicate that uncertainty is an instance of Q11862829, Q1047113, Q2267705, and Q130459448. It is a subclass of Q86923152 and Q3968640. It is listed as part of Q77468620. The entity has a Wikipedia title of "Uncertainty" and a total of 51 sitelinks.

## References

1. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=47789)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Integrated Authority File
4. BBC Things
5. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
6. National Library of Israel
7. KBpedia
8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
9. [Source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23665803/)