The sceptical challenge /
What do we know? Are any of our beliefs reasonable? Scepticism gives a pessimistic reply to these important epistemological questions: we don't know anything, it replies; none of our beliefs are reasonable. Can these seemingly paradoxical claims be more than an intellectual curiosity? And if so...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London ; New York :
Routledge,
1997.
|
| Series: | International library of philosophy.
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | CONNECT |
| Summary: | What do we know? Are any of our beliefs reasonable? Scepticism gives a pessimistic reply to these important epistemological questions: we don't know anything, it replies; none of our beliefs are reasonable. Can these seemingly paradoxical claims be more than an intellectual curiosity? And if so, can they be refuted? Ruth Weintraub answers yes to both these questions. The sceptical challenge is a formidable one, and should be confronted, not dismissed. The theoretical and practical difficulties it presents - it seems self-defeating and the consistently sceptical life cannot be lived - are in fact superficial. But any refutation of scepticism must draw on philosophy rather than science; it will founder if it attempts to eliminate traditional epistemology in favour of cognitive science. Accordingly, Weintraub focuses on the sceptical arguments of Sextus Empiricus, Hume and Descartes and challenges them on philosophical grounds. This strategy allows her to rebut the sceptical arguments one by one and to shift the burden of proof back to the sceptic: the sceptical challenge is indeed answerable. The Sceptical Challenge is a bold and original response to scepticism and will be of interest to epistemologists and historians of philosophy alike. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | EBSCO eBook Academic Comprehensive Collection North America |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (xv, 140 pages) |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 131-135) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780203067451 0203067452 9780415139465 0415139465 0203283864 9780203283868 1280330465 9781280330469 113477088X 9781134770885 |
