What is methodological skepticism?

Methodological skepticism is a philosophical method that attempts to find foundational principles or beliefs that cannot be doubted. It belongs to the broader field of philosophical methodology, which encompasses various procedures used by philosophers to conduct research and create theories. By systematically challenging assumptions, this approach aims to establish secure starting points for inquiry.

What we know

• Methodological skepticism tries to find principles that cannot be doubted. [3]
• Philosophical methodology encompasses the methods used to philosophize, including creating new theories and selecting between competing theories. [3]
• A method is a structured procedure for bringing about a certain goal, like acquiring knowledge or verifying knowledge claims. [2, 3]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureWhat is philosophical methodology?
• a case in pointHow does the geometrical method work in philosophy?
• compared withWhat are the core ideas of philosophical skepticism?
• how it workedHow do thought experiments function as a philosophical method?
• an unexpected connectionWhat is methodological solipsism?

Sources

• [1]methodology (Wikidata Q185698) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Methodology · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Philosophical methodology · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Philosophical skepticism · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Methodological solipsism · CC BY-SA 4.0