What are the sources of skepticism? What is skepticism rooted in?

Question

If knowledge is not possible, does dialogue with integrity stop?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Here is a detailed essay about the sources of scepticism and its roots:

http://www.philosophyonline.co.uk/tok/scepticism8.htm

Here is its history:

http://www.philosophyonline.co.uk/tok/scepticism8.htm

Questioning that which is accepted to be truth or that which is accepted to be knowledge is healthy. It helps us to improve upon what we currently know.

If you view knowledge as that which must remain the same infinitely than you are going to be hard pressed to find many instances of this.

However there are mathematical and logical truths that do not change and this is knowledge.

Scepticism does no service to the history of philosophy and thought if all it does is try to destroy everything. And while in many instances being sceptical is positive, it is not when it seeks to destroy our present help epistemologies and replace them with illogcal relativity theories.

Thevery fact that a sceptic must use reason and logic in order to disect and question what we accept to currently be true proves that there is something which we can call knowledge.

And if you do not believe knowledge exists than you are welcom to jump out a window, walk across the street in heavy traffic, jump off of a bridge or light yourself on fire. You know these will cause you harm and you do not do them.

And finally, if I don't know anything than how come I understand your question and know how I want to answer it?

Answer 2

Skepticism is often rooted in ignorance, for instance, virtually every great invention or discovery has its detractors ("It'll never catch on..."). Skepticism can equally have roots in knowledge. Once virtually everyone believed in witchcraft and the like. Modern thought has largely expunged such things from our collective thought, and so, examples of what was once "common knowledge" are now MET with skepticism. Learning is possible, and knowledge is the assimilation of learning.

Answer 3

I'd say the source of skepticism is often experience. Innocence is trusting but "once burned, twice shy."
The problem then is that so many get stuck at that second level -

1. innocence = baseless trust
2. experience = skepticism/cynicism, based on having been burned too often

But there's a third level, one that mixes the intuition of innocence with the knowledge of experience. That can grant something far rarer and more precious than mere knowledge; it can produce wisdom.

Answer 4

Skepticism is an attitude to belief. There are two kinds: local and global. Both are opposed to dogmatism.

Dogmatism is the attitude that *all* true beliefs can be justified. This attitude has its source in faith, which is wilful belief, as distinct from rational belief (belief permanently open to revision).

Local skepticism is the attitude that only *some* true beliefs (a specified set) can be justified. Usually the specified set has its source in allegedly self-evident truths, or axioms.

Global skepticism is the attitude that only *one* true belief can be justified, namely the belief that only one true belief can be justified. The source of this attitude is the perceived unjustifiability of all other beliefs.

Answer 5

GOOD QUESTION, Echotexture!

I'm not going to go into this as a scholarly history--you'd do better going to Wikipedia or Durant's History of Philosophy.

But skepticism, or doubting, is USEFUL in daily life. Questioning my own assumptions, especially the negative ones, puts me in a better position to assess things.

If I feel unloveable, I can be doubtful of that feeling, by asking :"How do I know? What evidence am I basing this on?"

Or likewise if I react negatively to someone or something else--" How do I know (or judge) that this (person or thing) is Good, or Bad.?"

It's easier to face reality, whatever that is, by not making snap, unquestioned judgments about those circumstances.That way you can keep your mind and senses OPEN and learn from new experiences.

I hope this helps. Thanks for the question./Jim

Answer 6

I think skeptisim is rooted in the phrase I dont know..... or im not sure.... as in I dont know if thats such a good Idea. or else you can always blame it on good old charlie brown.