Philosophical skepticism asks whether we can know things, and whether our beliefs have enough justification to count as knowledge. This lesson introduces skepticism and distinguishes its global and local forms.
In philosophy, skepticism is the view that some or all knowledge is impossible. A skeptic questions whether we can have knowledge, often by questioning whether our beliefs are sufficiently justified. A belief might happen to be true, but knowledge normally requires more than being right by chance: the believer must also have an adequate basis for the belief.
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What is a skeptical hypothesis?
A scenario in which experience could seem unchanged even though the world is not as a person believes.
How does global skepticism differ from local skepticism?
Global skepticism challenges knowledge broadly; local skepticism limits its challenge to a particular domain.
What is Moore's response to the skeptical argument?
He maintains that he is justified in ordinary beliefs, such as having two hands, and infers that he can rule out the skeptical hypothesis.
What does contextualism say about knowledge attributions?
Whether a knowledge attribution is true depends partly on the context and its standards for justification.
Does skepticism about a domain show that its claims are false?
No. It questions whether those claims can be known or sufficiently justified, not whether they are false.
Quiz questions
What makes a scenario a skeptical hypothesis?Answer: Experience could seem the same even though the world differs from what the person believes.
In Moore's argument, what does he infer from the claim that he is justified in believing he has two hands?Answer: He can rule out the skeptical hypothesis.
According to contextualism, what can vary with the context of a knowledge claim?Answer: The standard of justification required for the claim to count as knowledge.
What is the central point of Hume's is–ought challenge?Answer: Descriptions of what is the case do not, by logic alone, establish what ought to be the case.
Why can testimony raise questions about evidence for religious belief?Answer: Its reliability may be questioned when it passes through many people and generations.