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Epistemological skepticism is the idea that individuals lack knowledge or justification for a specific group of propositions (Barnett, 2014). Skepticism with respect to all propositions is known as global skepticism, and it reveals that knowledge is nonexistent (2014). The regress problem is a difficulty in epistemology, where an idea has to be justified, because the justification itself has to have further reasoning (2014). The infinite regress argument concludes that individuals lack justification and knowledge (since knowledge requires justification) through its premises, but non-doxastic evidence ends the regress argument without circularity or arbitrariness.
The infinite regress argument dates back to Sectus Empiricus, 3rd century C.E. (2014). It states that in order for a belief to be justified, it must be supported by reasons that form either a finite, linear chain of beliefs, a finite, circular chain of beliefs, or an infinite chain of beliefs (2014). However, all of these methods of reasoning contain flaws. A finite, linear chain must end on an unproven statement or assumption, which cannot justify anything (2014). Since it terminates with a lack of further justification, knowledge is similarly absent. Circular reasoning cannot justify anything (2014), because the justifications continue to justify each other back and forth. Lastly, the finite minds of human beings are not capable of having an infinite number of beliefs (2014). Therefore, due to these flaws, individuals lack justification and knowledge. Skeptics abide by this conclusion and believe that, indeed, justification and knowledge are nonexistent. Nevertheless, there are several potential responses to this case of skepticism.
Infinitism is the view that indiv...
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...gainst the existence of knowledge has been supported by the regress problem and infinite regress argument. The questioning of knowledge and its existence has led to many responses in order to counteract the skeptics’ ideas. Flaws have been observed in the perspective of the skeptics and responses have arisen from these inconsistencies. However, difficulties have been seen in the views of infinitism, coherentism, and foundationalism. The idea that concludes the argument of infinite regress without portraying the flaws seen in other responses is that of non-doxastic evidence.
Works Cited
Barnett, C. B. (2014, January). Skepticism: The Regress Problem. Paper presented at St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY.
Feinberg, J., & Shafer-Landau, R. (2013). Reason and responsibility: Readings in some basic problems of philosophy. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
In order to be considered a non-evidentialist, one must believe that actual evidence is not required for all of our beliefs. Pascal believ...
...ue that the “father” of modern skepticism, Rene Descartes, wrote in his First Meditation that “firmly rooted in [his] mind is the longstanding belief that there is an omnipotent God” (GSC 353). Because of how legitimate of a justification that faith is, Moore sufficiently responds to skeptics’ criticisms to his proof.
The strength of the skeptical argument lies in the fact that it can not be
Feinberg, Joel and Russ Shafer-Landau, eds. Reason and Responsibility: Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Group, 2002.
In “The Epistemic Significance of Disagreement”, Thomas Kelly gives two responses to the question “How should awareness of disagreement, with those that you take to be your epistemic equal, effect the rational confidence you have in your beliefs?”. Kelly discusses two possible responses to the question. The first is Richard Foley's first person perspective argument. Adam Elga calls the second the right reasons view (Elga, 2007 pg. 485). Kelly pursues the latter, and does not go further than agreeing with Foley that we should only view these disputes with a first person perspective.
Pereboom, Derk. "Why We Have No Will and Can Live Without It." Feinberg, Joel and Russ Shafer-Landau. Reason and Responsibility: Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning , 2013. 443-455. Print.
Stumpf, S. E., & Fieser, J. (2008). Philosophy: History and problems. . New York: McGraw-Hill.
Carl Sagan's The Fine Art of Baloney Detection depicts the importance of thinking skeptically before new ideas can be accepted (Sagan, 1997). Skeptical thinking pertains to our ability to distinguish what is true from what is false in some sort of logical argument or idea. Sagan promotes nine tools for this type of thinking, six of which I believe are the most useful will be discussed throughout this essay.
René Descartes was a skeptic, and thus he believed that in order for something to be considered a true piece of knowledge, that “knowledge must have a certain stability,” (Cottingham 21). In his work, Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes concludes that in order to achieve this stability, he must start at the foundations for all of his opinions and find the basis of doubt in each of them. David Hume, however, holds a different position on skepticism in his work An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, for he criticizes Descartes’ claim because “‘it is impossible,’” (qtd. in Cottingham 35). Both philosophers show distinct reasoning in what skepticism is and how it is useful in finding stability.
‘Kantian Ethics’ in [EBQ] James P Sterba (ed) Ethics: the Big Questions, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1998, 185-198. 2) Kant, Immanuel. ‘Morality and Rationality’ in [MPS] 410-429. 3) Rachel, James. The Elements of Moral Philosophy, fourth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
There are hundreds of “levels” of skepticism which have developed, but which are mainly divided into two groups: local, or radical skepticism. While radical skeptics are few and far between, local skeptics are everywhere. A local skeptic chooses which theories to believe and which to question. In all, this is an unsafe way to live. Even radical skepticism gives some form of reliability in that it argues with everything. Local skepticism is commonly found in people who believe only pieces of the Bible, but disbelieve certain pieces of evidence. When living a life of faith, there is no room for picking and choosing. Philosophical Skepticism is attributed to originating with the ancient Greeks, developing further with Renee Descartes, in around 1620. David Hume followed in his footsteps, destroying the popular theory of causality in the early 1700s. Skepticism is still alive and well today, much to the harm of
Harman, G. (2000). Is there a single true morality?. Explaining value and other essays in moral philosophy (pp. 77-99). Oxford: Clarendon Press ;.
The argument that is used in the idea of skepticism has comparable and incompatible views given from Augustine and Al-Ghazali. Both monologues cover and explain the doubts one should have, due to the
The value of doubt is immeasurable,
The reader, like modern man, must not give into “the arrogant presumption of certitude or the debilitating despair of skepticism,” but instead must “live in uncertainty, poised, by the conditions of our humanity and of the world in which we live, between certitude and skepticism, between presumption and despair “(Collins 36).