Literally, the term "skepticism" means "wobble, research, analysis."The basic idea of this approach in philosophy is to deny authenticity of knowledge.Skeptic - it is the man who never accepts the truth of any proposition, first putting his question.At first glance, such a position seems totally unsustainable and unattractive.It turns out, in the knowledge of being, we can not rely on any common position, since they can also be questioned.
Types skepticism
There are relative and absolute skepticism.Absolute skepticism characteristic of ancient philosophy;He denies the possibility of any cognition at all.Relative skepticism inherent in the present and is the negation of philosophical knowledge.In science, it is a skeptic - is the engine of progress, because he did not accept as indisputable, he's looking for her, thoroughly checking every statement.
skepticism as a philosophical trend
Skepticism is an independent direction in the philosophy of the Hellenistic period.The philosophical school of skeptics characterized Basics - all knowledge unreliable.The founder of this direction in antiquity is Pierron, believed to question the basis of knowledge.He proceeded from the assumption that one point of view no more true than the other, because all knowledge is relative, and it is impossible to say who is closer to the essence of things, and who is next.
main provisions of skepticism
From a philosophical point of view of a skeptic - a person adheres to the following provisions:
- because various thinkers were different points of view, none of them can not be considered fully true;
- human knowledge is limited, therefore no human judgment can not be accepted as the truth;
- human knowledge is relative, which means an inevitable impact on the results of subjective knowledge.We learn feelings, and thus perceive the phenomenon is not objective, and as a result of the impact on our senses.
Roman representative of skepticism Sextus Empiricus in his reasoning went as far as the principle of doubt spread to his own reflections.
ultimate goal of a skeptical approach to the knowledge of equanimity is a researcher.This means that, by rejecting the adoption of any judgments, becomes dispassionate thinker in the assessment of the world, thus acquiring serenity and happiness.
Positive aspects of skepticism
If everything is uncertain and can not be knowledge, what operates a skeptic?The value of this trend is particularly noticeable in the knowledge in the fight against dogmatism.If science is based on the so-called absolute truth, probably, it is already dead.Critical assessment of each hypothesis, each received fact makes the idea to move sometimes in the most unexpected directions, opening up new laws.Thus, the skeptic - is not just a critical minded cynic.This thinker whose question opens the way to new knowledge.
