Scepticism Comes Alive
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Scepticism Comes Alive
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Author : Bryan Frances
language : en
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Release Date : 2008
Scepticism Comes Alive written by Bryan Frances and has been published by Oxford University Press, USA this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2008 with Philosophy categories.
In epistemology the nagging voice of the sceptic has always been present. Over the last thirty years or so philosophers have thought of several promising ways to counter the radical sceptic: for instance, facts about the reliability of our cognitive processes, principles determining which possibilities must be ruled out in order to have knowledge, and principles regarding the context-sensitivity of knowledge attributions. In this entertaining and provocative book, Bryan Frances presents a new argument template for generating new kinds of radical scepticism, ones that hold even if all the clever anti-sceptical fixes defeat the traditional sceptic. Not only is the argument schema novel, but the sceptical consequences are entirely unexpected. Although the new sceptic concludes that we don't know that fire engines are red, that we sometimes have pains in our knees, or even that we believe that fire engines are red or that knees sometimes throb, she admits that we know millions of exotic truths such as the fact that black holes exist. You can know about the existence of black holes, but not about the colour of your shirt or even about what you believe regarding the colour of your shirt. The new sceptical arguments proceed in the usual way (here's a sceptical hypothesis; you can't neutralize it, you have to be able to neutralize it to know P; so you don't know P), but the sceptical hypotheses plugged into it are "real live" scientific-philosophical hypotheses often thought to be actually true, such as error theories about belief, colour, pain location, and character traits. Frances investigates the questions, "Under what conditions do we need to rule out these error theories in order to know things inconsistent with them?" and "Can we rule them out?" Particular attention is paid to recent methods used to counter the traditional sceptic. Sharp, witty, and fun to read, Scepticism Comes Alive will be highly provocative for anyone interested in knowledge and its limits.
Scepticism Comes Alive
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Author : Bryan Frances
language : en
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Release Date : 2005-06-16
Scepticism Comes Alive written by Bryan Frances and has been published by OUP Oxford this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2005-06-16 with Philosophy categories.
In epistemology the nagging voice of the sceptic has always been present. Over the last thirty years or so philosophers have thought of several promising ways to counter the radical sceptic: for instance, facts about the reliability of our cognitive processes, principles determining which possibilities must be ruled out in order to have knowledge, and principles regarding the context-sensitivity of knowledge attributions. In this entertaining and provocative book, Bryan Frances presents a new argument template for generating new kinds of radical scepticism, ones that hold even if all the clever anti-sceptical fixes defeat the traditional sceptic. Not only is the argument schema novel, but the sceptical consequences are entirely unexpected. Although the new sceptic concludes that we don't know that fire engines are red, that we sometimes have pains in our knees, or even that we believe that fire engines are red or that knees sometimes throb, she admits that we know millions of exotic truths such as the fact that black holes exist. You can know about the existence of black holes, but not about the colour of your shirt or even about what you believe regarding the colour of your shirt. The new sceptical arguments proceed in the usual way (here's a sceptical hypothesis; you can't neutralize it, you have to be able to neutralize it to know P; so you don't know P), but the sceptical hypotheses plugged into it are 'real live' scientific-philosophical hypotheses often thought to be actually true, such as error theories about belief, colour, pain location, and character traits. Frances investigates the questions, 'Under what conditions do we need to rule out these error theories in order to know things inconsistent with them?' and 'Can we rule them out?' Particular attention is paid to recent methods used to counter the traditional sceptic. Sharp, witty, and fun to read, Scepticism Comes Alive will be highly provocative for anyone interested in knowledge and its limits.
Scepticism And Animal Faith
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Author : George Santayana
language : en
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Release Date : 1955-01-01
Scepticism And Animal Faith written by George Santayana and has been published by Courier Corporation this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1955-01-01 with Philosophy categories.
In this work, Santayana analyzes the nature of the knowing process and demonstrates by means of clear, powerful arguments how we know and what validates our knowledge. The central concept of his philosophy is found in a careful discrimination between the awareness of objects independent of our perception and the awareness of essences attributed to objects by our mind, or between what Santayana calls the realm of existents and the realm of subsistents. Since we can never be certain that these attributes actually inhere in a substratum of existents, skepticism is established as a form of belief, but animal faith is shown to be a necessary quality of the human mind. Without this faith there could be no rational approach to the necessary problem of understanding and surviving in this world. Santayana derives this practical philosophy from a wide and fascinating variety of sources. He considers critically the positions of such philosophers as Descartes, Euclid, Hume, Kant, Parmenides, Plato, Pythagoras, Schopenhauer, and the Buddhist school as well as the assumptions made by the ordinary man in everyday situations. Such matters as the nature of belief, the rejection of classical idealism, the nature of intuition and memory, symbols and myth, mathematical reality, literary psychology, the discovery of essence, sublimation of animal faith, the implied being of truth, and many others are given detailed analyses in individual chapters.
Scepticism A Critical Reappraisal
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Author : Nicholas Rescher
language : en
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Release Date : 1980
Scepticism A Critical Reappraisal written by Nicholas Rescher and has been published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1980 with Philosophy categories.
In endeavoring to secure our knowledge against the skeptic's critique, we can acquire a great deal of useful insight into its nature. For it emerges that our knowledge of matters of objective fact is potentially defeasible and that what we claim as "our knowledge of the world" is and is bound to remain presumably incomplete, potentially incorrect, and possibly inconsistent as well. The explanation and analysis of these circumstances is the object of the present critique of skepticism. The book will accordingly endeavor to sift the wheat from the chaff in the skeptic's argument.
Scepticism
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Author : Duncan Pritchard
language : en
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Release Date : 2019-09-26
Scepticism written by Duncan Pritchard and has been published by Oxford University Press, USA this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-09-26 with Philosophy categories.
Throughout history scepticism and the urge to question accepted truths has been a powerful force for change and growth. Today, as we are bombarded by adverts, scientific studies praising the latest superfoods, and political rhetoric, a healthy amount of scepticism is widely encouraged. But when is such scepticism legitimate - for example, as a driver of new ideas - and when is it problematic? And what role might adopting a sceptical outlook play in leading an intellectually virtuous life? In this Very Short Introduction Duncan Pritchard explores both the advantages of scepticism, in challenging outdated notions, and also how it can have unhelpful social consequences, in generating distrust. He considers the role of scepticism at the source of contemporary social and political movements such as climate change denial, post-truth politics, and fake news. Pritchard also examines the philosophical arguments for a radical form of scepticism which maintains that knowledge is impossible, and explores some of the main responses to these arguments. Finally, he considers the part scepticism might play in applying better thinking and learning to achieve a more meaningful life. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Scepticism
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Author : Neil Gascoigne
language : en
Publisher: Routledge
Release Date : 2014-12-18
Scepticism written by Neil Gascoigne and has been published by Routledge this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2014-12-18 with Philosophy categories.
The history of scepticism is assumed by many to be the history of failed responses to a problem first raised by Descartes. While the thought of the ancient sceptics is acknowledged, their principle concern with how to live a good life is regarded as bearing little, if any, relation to the work of contemporary epistemologists. In "Scepticism" Neil Gascoigne engages with the work of canonical philosophers from Descartes, Hume and Kant through to Moore, Austin, and Wittgenstein to show how themes that first emerged in the Hellenistic period are inextricably bound up with the historical development of scepticism. Foremost amongst these is the view that scepticism relates not to the possibility of empirical knowledge but to the possibility of epistemological theory. This challenge to epistemology itself is explored and two contemporary trends are considered: the turn against foundationalist epistemology and towards more naturalistic conceptions of inquiry, and the resistance to this on the part of non-naturalistically inclined philosophers. In contextualizing the debate in this way Gascoigne equips students with a better appreciation of the methodological importance of sceptical reasoning, an analytic understanding of the structure of sceptical arguments, and an awareness of the significance of scepticism to the nature of philosophical inquiry.
Universal Skepticism
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Author : Kevin Henley
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2004-02-01
Universal Skepticism written by Kevin Henley and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2004-02-01 with Philosophy categories.
This is a second book for unrepentant skeptics, written as a sequel to Taking the Lying out of Living: the Skeptic's Manifesto, published back in 2001. Although that earlier work was an excellent introduction to the principles of universal skepticism, I feel that if left out a number of important observations. Without repeating any of the points made in my previous effort, in this book I want to broaden and to deepen my investigation into what keeps most human beings from leading more satisfactory lives. To that end, I have included a lot of new information about the toxicity of leadership in all the different walks of life, as well as new examples of how the different belief systems have been used to deprive almost everyone from realizing life's most important ambitions. Once again, I have used history, current events and my own experience to find appropriate but often ironic, even humorous, illustrations of organized frailty and egoism. Universal skepticism is the best method available for us to reject all the different kinds of parochialism religion, political ideologies including patriotism, and social discrimination of all kinds that prevent us from becoming genuinely free for the first time. Even though I realize how difficult it is to bring about, I would like this book to help readers work their way past the partial allegiances that afflict us all. Our goal should be to let nothing intermediate get in between our own individuality and our participation in the universal human experience, such as it is today.
Knowledge A Very Short Introduction
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Author : Jennifer Nagel
language : en
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Release Date : 2014-09-25
Knowledge A Very Short Introduction written by Jennifer Nagel and has been published by OUP Oxford this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2014-09-25 with Philosophy categories.
What is knowledge? How does it differ from mere belief? Do you need to be able to justify a claim in order to count as knowing it? How can we know that the outer world is real and not a dream? Questions like these are ancient ones, and the branch of philosophy dedicated to answering them - epistemology - has been active for thousands of years. In this thought-provoking Very Short Introduction, Jennifer Nagel considers these classic questions alongside new puzzles arising from recent discoveries about humanity, language, and the mind. Nagel explains the formation of major historical theories of knowledge, and shows how contemporary philosophers have developed new ways of understanding knowledge, using ideas from logic, linguistics, and psychology. Covering topics ranging from relativism and the problem of scepticism to the trustworthiness of internet sources, Nagel examines how progress has been made in understanding knowledge, using everyday examples to explain the key issues and debates ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Scepticism And Animal Faith
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Author : George Santayana
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2019-07-25
Scepticism And Animal Faith written by George Santayana and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-07-25 with Philosophy categories.
2019 Reprint of 1923 Edition. Scepticism and Animal Faith marks an important departure from his Santayana's philosophy and serves as "a critical introduction" to and résumé of his new system developed in the four-volume Realms of Being (1928, 1930, 1937, 1940), an ontological (nature of being) treatise of great concentration and finish. In these later works Santayana enhanced his stature as a philosopher by achieving greater theoretical precision, depth, and coherence. Scepticism and Animal Faith conveys better than any other volume the essential import of his philosophy. It formulates his theory of immediately apprehended essences and describes the role played by "animal faith" in various forms of knowledge. Contents There is no first principle of criticism -- Dogma and doubt -- Wayward scepticism -- Doubts about self-consciousness -- Doubts about change -- Ultimate scepticism -- Nothing given exists -- Some authorities for this conclusion -- The discovery of essence -- Some uses of this discovery -- The watershed of criticism -- Identity and duration attributed to essences -- Belief in demonstration -- Essence and intuition -- Belief in experience -- Belief in the self -- The cognitive claims of memory -- Knowledge is faith mediated by symbols -- Belief in substance -- On some objections to belief in substance -- Sublimations of animal faith -- Belief in nature -- Evidences of animation in nature -- Literary psychology -- The implied being of truth -- Discernment of spirit -- Comparison with other criticisms of knowledge.
Disagreement
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Author : Bryan Frances
language : en
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2014-08-25
Disagreement written by Bryan Frances and has been published by John Wiley & Sons this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2014-08-25 with Philosophy categories.
Regardless of who you are or how you live your life, you disagree with millions of people on an enormous number of topics from politics, religion and morality to sport, culture and art. Unless you are delusional, you are aware that a great many of the people who disagree with you are just as smart and thoughtful as you are - in fact, you know that often they are smarter and more informed. But believing someone to be cleverer or more knowledgeable about a particular topic usually won’t change your mind. Should it? This book is devoted to exploring this quandary - what should we do when we encounter disagreement, particularly when we believe someone is more of an authority on a subject than we are? The question is of enormous importance, both in the public arena and in our personal lives. Disagreement over marriages, beliefs, friendships and more causes immense personal strife. People with political power disagree about how to spend enormous amounts of money, about what laws to pass, or about wars to fight. If only we were better able to resolve our disagreements, we would probably save millions of lives and prevent millions of others from living in poverty. The first full-length text-book on this philosophical topic, Disagreement provides students with the tools they need to understand the burgeoning academic literature and its (often conflicting) perspectives. Including case studies, sample questions and chapter summaries, this engaging and accessible book is the perfect starting point for students and anyone interested in thinking about the possibilities and problems of this fundamental philosophical debate.