ETHICAL SKEPTICISM

Ethical Skepticism



Ethical Skepticism

Introduction

The concept of skepticism in philosophy is the challenge to the idea that humans have knowledge about the world around them and can make true statements based on that knowledge. The two kinds of skepticism examined in this paper are the Pyrrhonian concept of skepticism; written out by Sextus Empiricus in the book Outlines of Scepticism and Descartes' skepticism based on Descartes' Meditations. The methods of how skeptical doubt produce is examined as well as responses to the methods (Sosa & Villanueva, 2000).

In Pyrrhonian skepticism, the method outlined by Sextus is suppose to bring a person to the conclusion that by examining knowledge a person has about something suspension of judgment will follow for that knowledge. Pyrrhonian skeptics stay away from truth statements based on the fact that arguments; that support one knowledge not grounded for a person to believe if that knowledge not found to be grounded in the correct way. The Pyrrhonian's do not offer any method to try; and help a person find out if certain knowledge is true but they do not deny the fact that it could be possible. Sextus only presents the method that will lead to suspending knowledge that based on the system of modes. Five modes or a strategy given to suggest that suspension of judgment about if some knowledge is true is to present in Sextus text.

Discussion

There is an inherent power in holding a skeptical world-view. Skepticism adapts tools of reason and weighing of evidence designs and refined by science and applies them to everyday life. It has arguably more likely than any other to get us close to something resembling objective truth. Becoming a skeptic also turns intellectual rigor into an ethical responsibility.

I believe that skepticism, conscientiously applied, obligates us to do two things as consistently as possible: to apply the rational, rational thought process to our own lives, and both in ourselves and others, the cognitive pitfalls that make complete rationality practically impossible (Landesman & Meeks, 2003).

In modern philosophy, we find skepticism in Montaigne (1592), with a virtuous skepticism and metaphysical skepticism Hume. Declaring oneself to be a skeptic is an assertion of identity. It has a claim to membership in a cohort of people from all over the world, who justifiably (most of the time) pride themselves on being intelligent, rational individuals. Embracing skepticism is also an endorsement of a world-view. It has a ...