Philosophers skepticism Essay

Sunplowedicism, which derives from the Greek backchat skeptesthai, is the philosophical outlook that decl ares knowing allthing with assurance is impossible. This term can excessively signify an unwillingness to accept anything without sufficient proof. Skepticism originated in the fifth century BC in Greece when received philosophers began to express their doubts or so 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 uncertainty about the world and how it is perceived.Protagoras is reported to have state that, man is the measure of all things Moore and Bruder (2005). He meant that each persons opinions are different, so what is sure for one person may non be for another person. Gorgias has said 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). Gorgiass theory was self explanatory nothing exists and even if it did, it cannot be communicated. Therefore, at that place is no real proof that something exists at all.The history of Skepticism has troika predominate levels the pre-Academic, the Academic and the post Academic. The pre Academic period started with Pyrrho, who was from the western brass of the Greek Pelopnnesus, Elis. He believed that true reality is unknown so judgments should not be do 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 savants 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 contrary of one another when referred to nature and essence. For example, when a person tastes honey, is the dessert in the honey or in that person? This qu estion is raise because what tastes good to one person may be tasteless to another. certain(a) foods may also look tasty but have a bitter taste (diCarlo, 2009). In these carve upicular instances, the five senses are contradictory of one another. Pyrrho and Timon both believed that the conflicting suppositions regarding nature are impossible to define 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 ontogeny an organized attack toward doctrinaire positions, including the metaphysics of Plato the second included the development of rules and verbiage to cope and interact with their experiences. One of the first Academic skeptics was Arcesilaus (315 BCE-240 BCE), who was the leader of Platos Academy.He channeled his energy toward the Stoics, who believed certain views ar e 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), 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 beared a skeptic to criticize any metaphysical doctrine (diCarlo, 2009).Sextus created Empiricuss Out rows of Pyrrhonism, which, described a school of scene which was named after the philosopher Pyrrho of Elis (c. 365-275 B. C. )( Sextus Empiricuss 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 tags, are forced to be skeptical everyday due to their occupations. Critical decisions have a dogged 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 mandatory to be doubtful because they could become vulnerable or naive if they allow others to fool them. Simply pulling someone over for a trading 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 endanger 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 direct 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 skep ticism about the smallest things because bad experiences or gullibility.ReferencesMoore, Brooke N. , & Bruder, Kenneth. (2005). school of thought 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 Empiricuss 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