How does philosophical skepticism relate to common sense?
Philosophical skepticism questions the possibility of knowledge, often explicitly rejecting very plausible knowledge claims that form the basis of everyday common sense. While common-sense philosophy builds its foundation on widely held beliefs and innate perceptions, philosophical skeptics argue that available evidence is inadequate and advocate for either denying knowledge or suspending judgment.
What we know
- Philosophical skepticism differs from other forms of skepticism because it rejects very plausible knowledge claims belonging to basic common sense. [2]
- Philosophical skepticism rejects knowledge claims that seem certain from the perspective of common sense. [3]
- Common-sense philosophers use widely held beliefs as their starting point of inquiry, contrasting with radical skeptical doubt. [4]
- Scottish common sense realism developed as an 18th-century realist school of philosophy emphasizing man's innate ability to perceive common ideas. [5]
Still open
- Critics object to philosophical skepticism based on the claim that it is a self-refuting idea, while other objections focus on its implausibility and distance from regular life.
Where to go next
- compared withWhat are the main categories of philosophical skepticism?
- how we knowHow did Scottish common sense realism oppose David Hume?
- how it workedWhat is methodological skepticism in philosophy?
- the bigger pictureWhat role does epistemology play in philosophical inquiry?
- whenHow did ancient Pyrrhonian skepticism view inner peace?
- an unexpected connectionHow does ancient skepticism connect to a way of life for inner peace?Philosophical skepticism is often studied as a strict epistemological theory, yet in ancient traditions like Pyrrhonism, it was practiced as a way of life aimed at achieving inner peace.
Sources
- [1]philosophical skepticism (Wikidata Q1998646) · CC0 1.0
- [2]Philosophical skepticism · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [3]Skepticism · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [4]Philosophical methodology · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [5]Scottish common sense realism · CC BY-SA 4.0