The Illusion of Doubt

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Epistemology
Cover of the book The Illusion of Doubt by Genia Schönbaumsfeld, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Genia Schönbaumsfeld ISBN: 9780191086564
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: November 3, 2016
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Genia Schönbaumsfeld
ISBN: 9780191086564
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: November 3, 2016
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

The Illusion of Doubt shows that radical scepticism is an illusion generated by a Cartesian picture of our evidential situation - the view that my epistemic grounds in both the 'good' and the 'bad' cases must be the same, and consists in information about an inner mental realm of experience from which I must try to work my way out to what goes on 'out there' in the external world. It is this picture which issues both a standing invitation to radical scepticism and ensures that there is no way of getting out of it while agreeing to the sceptic's terms. What we therefore need to do is not try to answer the sceptical problem 'directly', but rather to undermine the assumptions that it depends on. These are among the most ingrained in contemporary epistemology. They include the notion that radical scepticism can be motivated by the 'closure' principle for knowledge, that the 'Indistinguishability Argument' renders the Cartesian conception compulsory, that the 'new evil genius thesis' is coherent, and the demand for a 'global validation' of our epistemic practices makes sense. Once these dogmas are undermined, the path is clear for a 'realism without empiricism' that allows us to re-establish unmediated contact with the objects and persons in our environment which an illusion of doubt had threatened to put forever beyond our cognitive grasp.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Illusion of Doubt shows that radical scepticism is an illusion generated by a Cartesian picture of our evidential situation - the view that my epistemic grounds in both the 'good' and the 'bad' cases must be the same, and consists in information about an inner mental realm of experience from which I must try to work my way out to what goes on 'out there' in the external world. It is this picture which issues both a standing invitation to radical scepticism and ensures that there is no way of getting out of it while agreeing to the sceptic's terms. What we therefore need to do is not try to answer the sceptical problem 'directly', but rather to undermine the assumptions that it depends on. These are among the most ingrained in contemporary epistemology. They include the notion that radical scepticism can be motivated by the 'closure' principle for knowledge, that the 'Indistinguishability Argument' renders the Cartesian conception compulsory, that the 'new evil genius thesis' is coherent, and the demand for a 'global validation' of our epistemic practices makes sense. Once these dogmas are undermined, the path is clear for a 'realism without empiricism' that allows us to re-establish unmediated contact with the objects and persons in our environment which an illusion of doubt had threatened to put forever beyond our cognitive grasp.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Generality in Mathematics and the Sciences by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Mao: A Very Short Introduction by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Germany: The Long Road West by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book War and the Politics of Ethics by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Arguments about Abortion by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Insects by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book The Islandman by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of the Theory of International Law by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Under the Hammer by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Police Leadership by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Respecting Toleration by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Parmenides and Presocratic Philosophy by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Diversity in Organizations by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
Cover of the book Studies in Buddhist Philosophy by Genia Schönbaumsfeld
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy