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Skepticism is fundamentally defined by its challenge to the human capacity to attain or possess knowledge, as evidenced by the skeptical questioning of whether knowledge is possible [1], [2], [3]. Furthermore, various philosophical frameworks, such as fallibilism, contextualism, and the work of John Greco, are specifically structured as responses to the skeptical denial of knowledge [4], [5], [6].
Facts (19)
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Epistemology - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy plato.stanford.edu 6 facts
claimThe skeptical conclusion that one does not know they have hands is reached by applying the closure principle to the BIV argument, where the antecedent of the closure principle is considered false because the individual cannot know they are not a brain-in-a-vat.
procedureSkeptics use a two-step argument to challenge knowledge: first, they identify a proposition the subject admits they do not know; second, they argue that because the subject does not know that second proposition, they cannot know the first proposition.
claimThe 'semantic ascent' element of contextualism posits that a satisfactory response to skepticism and the Brain in a Vat (BIV) argument requires distinguishing between high-standards and low-standards meanings of 'knowledge'.
claimSkeptics argue that for any skeptical hypothesis, a person cannot know that the hypothesis is false.
claimBoth contextualism and the ambiguity response share the 'semantic ascent' element, which requires distinguishing between various meanings of the word 'know' to provide a satisfactory response to skepticism.
claimBecause the evidence available to a normal person and a brain-in-a-vat is identical, skeptics argue that a person cannot know they are not a brain-in-a-vat.
Virtue Epistemology | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy iep.utm.edu 4 facts
claimJohn Greco's response to skepticism allows for knowledge of the external world even in cases where a person lacks cogent or non-question-begging reasons for believing that the external world exists.
claimJohn Greco argues that the skeptic's reasoning presupposes a mistaken view of the relation between knowledge and epistemic grounds, specifically assuming that to know a claim, one must possess grounds or reasons that provide a cogent reason for thinking the claim is true via logical or quasi-logical principles.
claimJohn Greco's requirements for knowledge are viewed by internalists as a capitulation to skepticism rather than a victory over it.
claimJohn Greco argues against skepticism about the external world by claiming that if a person possesses a reliable disposition to reason from the appearance of an external world to its existence, then knowledge of the external world is possible for that person.
Epistemology - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 4 facts
claimRené Descartes (1596–1650) aimed to find absolutely certain knowledge by encountering truths that cannot be doubted, inspired by skepticism.
claimFallibilism is a philosophical response to skepticism that agrees with skeptics that absolute certainty is impossible, but rejects the assumption that knowledge requires absolute certainty, thereby concluding that fallible knowledge exists.
claimThe school of skepticism questions the human ability to attain knowledge.
claimThe school of Ajñana, emerging in the 6th century BCE, developed a radical skepticism that questioned the possibility and usefulness of knowledge.
Naturalized Epistemology - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy plato.stanford.edu 2 facts
claimTraditionalists in epistemology can sensibly proceed without scientific input if their goal is to refute arguments for skepticism, as refuting arguments for the denial of knowledge does not necessarily demonstrate that knowledge exists.
claimContemporary epistemologists largely view the goal of their field as defining what knowledge is, rather than attempting to refute skepticism, because they already operate under the assumption that the skeptic is wrong.
Epistemology - Belief, Justification, Rationality | Britannica britannica.com 2 facts
claimSkepticism challenges the claim that human beings possess or can acquire knowledge.
formulaThe definition of knowledge accepted by both skeptics and non-skeptics implies two conditions: (1) if a person knows a proposition p, then p must be true, and (2) if a person knows a proposition p, then it is logically impossible for that person to be mistaken.
Epistemology | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy iep.utm.edu 1 fact
claimDavid Hume argues that even if human perceptions are accurate, skepticism remains because humans perceive only a small part of the universe at any moment, yet claim knowledge of the world beyond current perceptions.