Philosophers skepticism Essay

Skepticism, which derives from the Greek word skeptesthai, is the philosophical outlook that declares knowing anything with assurance is impossible. This term can also signify an unwillingness to accept anything without sufficient proof. Skepticism originated in the 5th century BC in Greece when certain philosophers began to express their doubts about how certain they could be about the knowledge they obtained and lived by. These philosophers include Protagoras of Abdera (480-411 BC) and Gorgias (485-380 BC), whom both showed skepticism about the world and how it is perceived. Protagoras is reported to have said that, â€Å"man is the measure of all things† Moore and Bruder (2005). He meant that each person’s opinions are different, so what is true for one person may not be for another person. Gorgias has said â€Å"nothing exists; if anything does exist, it cannot be known; if anything exists and can be known, it cannot be communicated† Moore and Bruder (2005). Gorgias’s theory was self explanatory; nothing exists and even if it did, it cannot be communicated. Therefore, there is no real proof that something exists at all. The history of Skepticism has three predominate periods: the pre-Academic, the Academic and the post Academic. The pre Academic period started with Pyrrho, who was from the western side of the Greek Pelopnnesus, Elis. He believed that true reality is unknown so judgments should not be made by anyone. Pyrrho was like Socrates because he never kept a record of his philosophy in writing. For that reason, most information regarding Pyrrho comes from his pupil’s writings, Timon. Pyrrho preferred to provide his followers with tools to live a commendable life, which included peaceful living according to the laws during his time. Pyrrho also believed that the five senses are contradictory of one another when referred to nature and essence. For example, when a person tastes honey, is the sweetness in the honey or in that person? This question is raised because what tastes good to one person may be tasteless to another. Certain foods may also look tasty but have a bitter taste (diCarlo, 2009). In these particular instances, the five senses are contradictory of one another. Pyrrho and Timon both believed that the conflicting suppositions regarding nature are impossible to decide since valid arguments can be made for each side. The Academic period began after the death of Socrates, when Plato started The Academy, a school of philosophy located in Athens. Academic skeptics introduced two important elements to skepticism: the first included developing an organized attack toward doctrinaire positions, including the metaphysics of Plato; the second included the development of rules and vocabulary to cope and interact with their experiences. One of the first Academic skeptics was Arcesilaus (315 BCE-240 BCE), who was the leader of Plato’s Academy. He channeled his energy toward the Stoics, who believed certain views are self evidently true, therefore, they cannot be doubted. The Post-Academic Skeptics included Aenesidemus and Sextus Empiricus. Aenesidemus developed the tropoi (10 modes of skepticism), â€Å"a set of skeptical argument forms, or modes, to show that judgment must be withheld on any issue. † These 10 modes of skepticism ranged from perception differences to cultural differences, and allowed a skeptic to criticize any metaphysical doctrine (diCarlo, 2009). Sextus created Empiricus’s Outlines of Pyrrhonism, which, described a school of thought which was named after the philosopher Pyrrho of Elis (c. 365-275 B. C. )†( Sextus Empiricus’s Outlines of Pyrrhonism, 2006). In the world today, skepticism is a part of human nature. Most people raise doubt because of inexperience or bad experiences from their past. Some individuals, like law enforcement officers and judges, are forced to be skeptical everyday due to their occupations. Critical decisions have a lasting effect on their lives, and the lives of those they are associated with during work. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line everyday so skepticism is necessary to survive. Police officers are required to be doubtful because they could become vulnerable or naive if they allow others to fool them. Simply pulling someone over for a traffic violation could turn fatal if the officers do not think critically and take certain safety measures. Although the officer may have intentions on just writing the person a citation, they might feel threatened and become violent. Judges are also faced with skepticism on a daily basis because there are two sides of the story, and the judge makes the decisions. The judge has to make the right choice and determine who is being honest based on evidence and their experience. Skepticism plays a major role because the judges are usually familiar with the body language and gestures made by someone who is guilty, so they become skeptical of their behavior. Overall, society displays skepticism about the smallest things because bad experiences or gullibility. References Moore, Brooke N. , & Bruder, Kenneth. (2005). Philosophy: The Power of Ideas (6th ed. ). McGraw-Hill Companies. PhilosophyOnline (2009). A Brief History of Scepticism. PhilosophyOnline. co. uk. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www. philosophyonline. co. uk/tok/scepticism8. htm Sextus Empiricus’s Outlines of Pyrrhonism (2006). Alex Scott. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www. angelfire. com/md2/timewarp/skepticism. html The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2006). Aenesidemus (1st Cn. CE). The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www. iep. utm. edu/a/aeneside. htm