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Single Idea 19392
[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 6. Scepticism Critique
]
Full Idea
I do not think it necessary to recommend to people universal doubt ...in fact, we are constantly seeking reasons for thoughts about which there is no doubt at all.
Gist of Idea
I don't recommend universal doubt; we constantly seek reasons for things which are indubitable
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (Precepts for Advancing Science and Arts [1680], p.34)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Leibniz Selections', ed/tr. Wiener,Philip P. [Scribners 1951], p.34
A Reaction
Such confidence is, of course, asking for trouble. I prefer Peirce's fallibilism - that robust realism is the most coherent view, and the only one worth pursuing and relying on, but you never know....
The
30 ideas
with the same theme
[ways of objecting to strongly sceptical claims]:
1919
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You don't need to learn what you know, and how do you seek for what you don't know?
[Plato]
|
1762
|
When someone denied motion, Diogenes got up and walked away
[Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]
|
6592
|
Academics said that Pyrrhonians were guilty of 'negative dogmatism'
[Pyrrho, by Fogelin]
|
20794
|
How can sceptics show there is no criterion? Weak without, contradiction with
[Sext.Empiricus]
|
3064
|
When sceptics say that nothing is definable, or all arguments have an opposite, they are being dogmatic
[Diog. Laertius]
|
3604
|
When rebuilding a house, one needs alternative lodgings
[Descartes]
|
2294
|
I can only sense an object if it is present, and can't fail to sense it when it is
[Descartes]
|
6488
|
Locke has no patience with scepticism
[Locke, by Robinson,H]
|
19392
|
I don't recommend universal doubt; we constantly seek reasons for things which are indubitable
[Leibniz]
|
2240
|
It is a very extravagant aim of the sceptics to destroy reason and argument by means of reason and argument
[Hume]
|
2241
|
The main objection to scepticism is that no good can come of it
[Hume]
|
5592
|
Scepticism is the euthanasia of pure reason
[Kant]
|
5595
|
Scepticism is absurd in maths, where there are no hidden false assertions
[Kant]
|
22780
|
It is a rejection of intellectual dignity to say that we cannot know the truth
[Hegel]
|
6945
|
Once doubt ceases, there is no point in continuing to argue
[Peirce]
|
22206
|
Natural science has become great by just ignoring ancient scepticism
[Husserl]
|
21578
|
Global scepticism is irrefutable, but can't replace our other beliefs, and just makes us hesitate
[Russell]
|
22163
|
The scandal of philosophy is expecting to prove reality when the prover's Being is vague
[Heidegger]
|
3596
|
Total doubt can't even get started
[Wittgenstein, by Williams,M]
|
4160
|
One can mistrust one's own senses, but not one's own beliefs
[Wittgenstein]
|
8805
|
Skepticism is false because our utterances agree, because they are caused by the same objects
[Davidson]
|
2566
|
You can't debate about whether to have higher standards for the application of words
[Rorty]
|
3252
|
Scepticism is based on ideas which scepticism makes impossible
[Nagel]
|
2743
|
What is the point of arguing against knowledge, if being right undermines your own argument?
[Dancy,J]
|
3880
|
Logical positivism avoids scepticism, by closing the gap between evidence and conclusion
[Scruton]
|
19559
|
Contextualists slightly concede scepticism, but only in extremely strict contexts
[Cohen,S]
|
6364
|
We can't start our beliefs from scratch, because we wouldn't know where to start
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
3761
|
Modern arguments against the sceptic are epistemological and semantic externalism, and the focus on relevance
[Bernecker/Dretske]
|
6590
|
Scepticism deals in remote possibilities that are ineliminable and set the standard very high
[Fogelin]
|
19507
|
Radical scepticism is merely raised, and is not a response to worrying evidence
[Pritchard,D]
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