The quality or act of doubting; the state of being doubtful or uncertain.
Formed from 'doubting' (gerund/present participle of 'doubt') plus '-ness,' an abstract noun suffix. This creates a more active sense of doubt—emphasizing the ongoing process of doubting rather than the static state of being doubtful.
Philosophers distinguish between 'doubt' (the thing itself), 'doubtfulness' (the quality of being doubtful), and 'doubtingness' (the active process), which is why Descartes wasn't just experiencing doubt—he was engaged in 'doubtingness' as a method.
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