Skepticism

Skepticism
I question this...
Basic Information
Aliases	Philosophical Skepticism Academic Skepticism Platonic Skepticism The Socratic Method
Alignments	Aesthetics  Epistemology  Mainstream  Metaphilosophy
Greatest achievement	Critical Thinking Philosophical Inquiry Scientific Methodology
Collectives	European Philosophy
Philosophical Influences
Influenced by	Cynicism Cyrenaicism Ephesian School Megarian School Parmenideanism Platonism Socratism Sophism
Influenced	Agnosticism Platoism Cartesianism Irrationalism Nihilism New Atheism
Preceded	Sophism Socratism
Succeeded	Academic Skepticism Pyrrhonism
Philosophical Information
Year	3rd century BC
Region of origin	Ancient Greece
Foundation	Pyrrhon (360-272 BCE), Ancient Greece
Notable Theorists	Greece Parmenides (530-5th century BCE), Ancient Greece Socrates (470-399 BCE), Ancient Greece Pyrrhon (360-272 BCE), Ancient Greece Timon of Phlius (320-235 BC), Ancient Greece Aenesidemus (1st century BC), Roman Empire Agrippa the Skeptic (1st century AD), Roman Empire Sextus Empiricus (2nd century AD), Roman Empire Europe Peter Abelard (1079-1142), France William of Ockham (1287-1347), England Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592), Kingdom of France Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655), France René Descartes (1596-1650), France David Hume (1711-1776), United Kingdom Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Germany Karl Marx (1818-1883), Germany Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), Germany Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), Austria/UK Karl Popper (1902-1994), Austria/UK Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969), Germany Albert Camus (1913-1960), France Paul Feyerabend (1924―1994), Austria Michel Foucault (1926-1984), France Middle East Al-Ma'arri (973-1057), Emirate of Aleppo Al-Ghazali (1058-1111), Abbasid Caliphate Other Countries
Variations
Sub-Philosophies	Academic Skepticism Athenian Stoicism Epicureanism Eudaimonism Platonism Pyrrhonism Socratism Sophism Modern Skepticism Cartesianism Empiricism Enlightenment Philosophy Humanism Humeanism Newtonianism Rationalism Spinozism Moral Skepticism Moral Anti-Realism Variants Moral Nihilism wip
Schools of Thought	Metaphysical Nominalism Anti-Essentialism Scholasticism Probabilism Consequentialism wip
Regional Variants	Post-Modernism Continental Philosophy Modernism Surrealism
Character Information
Likes	Questioning Doubt
Dislikes	Certainty

Skepticism comprises a range of philosophical perspectives that cast doubt on the attainability of knowledge. What sets it apart from other skeptical viewpoints is its inclination to challenge not only typical beliefs rooted in common sense but also well-founded claims to knowledge. Some ancient definitions of skepticism see it as a way to live.

Skepticism has been responsible for things like the scientific method and for the replacement of traditional forms of medicine with more advanced forms of medicine.

Variants

Religious Skepticism

Religious skepticism is skeptic philosophy applied to religious matters and beliefs. This variant is not opposed to religion at-large but is instead skeptical of some or all religious beliefs. In fact, there exists some quantity of religious people who question religion.

Scientific Skepticism

Scientific skepticism is a variant of skepticism that is concerned with scientific claims that lack empirical evidence. This variant is most often used in combating pseudoscientific claims.

Philosophical Skepticism

Academic Skepticism

Academic Skepticism is a variant that refers to Plato's Academy in the years between 266 BC and 90 BC, when skepticism was a guiding philosophic outlook.

History?

Skepticism is a concept that has been around for centuries, dating back to ancient Greece and the works of Pyrrho of Elis and Sextus Empiricus. In its most basic form, skepticism is the attitude of doubting knowledge claims and questioning accepted beliefs, norms, and values. Over time, skepticism has evolved into a complex and nuanced philosophical movement, with various schools of thought and ideas.

Beliefs?

Doubt as a Method

Skepticism often involves employing doubt as a method of inquiry. This means questioning assumptions, challenging beliefs, and critically examining the foundations of knowledge.

No Absolute Certainty

Skepticism tends to reject the idea of absolute certainty, asserting that it is difficult or impossible to achieve certainty in many areas of knowledge. Even seemingly self-evident truths may be subjected to doubt and scrutiny.

Fallibility of Human Perception and Reasoning

Skepticism acknowledges the fallibility of human perception and reasoning. It questions the reliability of senses and cognitive processes, emphasizing the potential for error and bias.

Suspension of Judgment

Skepticism often involves the practice of suspending judgment, especially in the face of uncertainty. This is not a denial of knowledge but a recognition that, in certain situations, sufficient evidence or justification may be lacking.

Openness to Revision

Skeptics are generally open to revising their beliefs based on new evidence or arguments. They recognize that knowledge is dynamic and subject to change as our understanding evolves.

Empirical Inquiry

While skepticism may cast doubt on certain claims, it doesn't necessarily reject empirical inquiry. Skeptics often value evidence and empirical investigation as essential tools for gaining knowledge.

Avoidance of Dogmatism

Skepticism is characterized by a resistance to dogmatism. Skeptics tend to avoid rigid, unquestioning adherence to beliefs and are wary of claims that cannot be subjected to critical examination.

Philosophical Humility

Skepticism promotes a sense of philosophical humility, acknowledging the limits of human understanding. It encourages individuals to recognize what they do not know and to approach knowledge with a sense of intellectual humility.

Questioning Authority

Skepticism often involves a healthy skepticism toward authority figures and established doctrines. It encourages individuals to question received wisdom and not blindly accept information simply because it comes from an authoritative source.

Personality?

He has doubts about his personality

Relationships

Friends?

• Cartesianism - Asks good questions, even if he is a little hasty to get to the answers?
• Post-Modernism - Skeptical towards meta-narratives?
• Nihilism - Thank you for teaching me how to doubt traditional meanings. Wait am I asserting teaching or nothing could actually be taught?
• Agnosticism - Has good doubts on religions?

Frenemies?

• Platonism - He only likes me when his teacher does it?
• Socratism - Being skeptical is good...yet why do you just want to draw conclusions by means of doubt?

Enemies?

• Why should I have enemies?

Further Information

Wikipedia

• Skepticism
• Philosophical skepticism

Reading

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Skepticism
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Ancient Skepticism
• Meditation on First Philosophy by Rene Descartes