Skepticism (A)

(Originally written September 2, 2006)

Part II - Skepticism

Skepticism is the theory that we do not have any knowledge

There are two types of skepticism:
1) Academic skepticism
2) Pyrrhonian Skepticism

Both originated in Ancient Greece.

Academic Skepticism was founded by Arcesilaus (315 - 240 BC). Arcesilaus built on Socrates' confession in the Apology, "ass that I know is that I know nothing"

He and the Academics argued that there is no criterion by which we can distinguish veridical perceptions from illusions and at the best we have only probable belief.

Skepticism was founded by Pyrrho of Elis (circa 360 - 270 BC). Pyrrhonian skepticism denied the possibility of any knowledge and rejected the Academic Dogmatism.

Sextus Empiricus was a pyrrhonian skeptic.

Global skepticism vs. Local Skepticism

Global skepticism maintains universal doubt. They deny that we know other minds exist or that we know that there is a physical world or any metaphysical truths.

Super global skeptics deny we can know even mathematical truths or the laws of logic.

Local skepticism admits that we can have mathematical and empirical knowledge, but that we cannot have metaphysical knowledge.

Hume entertains the possibility of both local and global skepticism.

Descartes set up a form of skepticism. He denounces perception because it can mislead us. He goes on to doubt even mathematical judgments.

Hume admits that we can have mathematical judgments. He denies empirical knowledge. He denies metaphysical knowledge.

II. 1 Global Skepticism and the Quest for a Certainty (Meditations 1 - 4)

René Descartes (1596 - 1650)

Frenchman, educated by the Jesuits.

First Meditation

"Of the things which may be brought within the sphere of doubtful"

Descartes wished to rip up all the false knowledge at the foundation of everything that he falsely 'knew'.

Since the senses are the source of much of Descartes' knowledge and since the senses have on occasion deceived Descartes, he thinks it wiser to fully distrust them.

Sciences like medicine, astronomy and physics focus on very composite things and are proved to err, but geometry and arithmetic which focus on simple things are indubitable.

But, what if God has fixed it so I perceive the world as it is, but that there is really no physical world? How do I know that I am not deceived in believing three and five form eight?

If God is good He would not deceive us like this; but we are deceived some times.

To err is imperfection. If God is perfect He does not err. If God is good He does not deceive. But, man is prone to err. Thus it is more probable that man deceives himself rather than God deceives man.

But, an evil genius would be capable of deceiving us in this way. God is all good and would not, but an evil being with power enough could deceive me.

Linehan - ah, Descartes, you have once again annoyed me with your evil genius theory. If one believes in an omnipotent creator who is all good there cannot be an omnipotent, malevolent deceiver. The concept of an omnipotent God denies the possibility of another omnipotent being, with a malevolent, benevolent or some in betwixt disposition.

Second Meditation

"The nature of the Human Mind, and How it is better known than the body"

Anything that Descartes can have a doubt about he vows to chuck out.

My memory lies, I have no senses, body, shape, extension, movement and place are gone. What is left? "Nothing is certain" (Polman, 25).

"I am, I exist, is necessarily true whenever it is put forward by me or conceived in my mind" (Polman, 25).

But, what exactly is this "I"?
- A man? What is man?
- A rational animal? What is an animal?
- A thinking thing?

I am a mind or intellect.

A thing that thinks is a thing that doubts, understands, affirms, denies.

Other bodies are knowable through comprehension. The mind understands other bodies and need not perceive them to have knowledge of them.

Third Meditation
"The existence of God"

I am very tired. I would really like to finish Descartes. Only ten more pages. (Sad Face)

What do I know?
- I am a thing that thinks
- A thing that doubts, affirms, denies, understands a few things is ignorant of many things, is willing, is unwilling, imagines and has sensory perceptions.