Philosophical skepticism facts for kids

Philosophical skepticism (Greek σκέψις - skepsis meaning "enquiry") is a school of philosophical thought that began in Ancient Greece and a method that crosses many different cultures. Many skeptics examine the meaning systems of their times, and this can often result in a position of doubt. This skepticism can be either disbelief in philosophical solutions, agnosticism, or even rejecting the reality of the outside world. One kind of scientific skepticism talks about looking into claims that lack evidence that can be seen.

In Islamic philosophy, philosophical skepticism was started by Al-Ghazali, known in the West as "Algazel", as a part of the orthodox Ash'ari school of Islamic theology. It has been said that Rene Descartes' ideas in Discourse on the Method may have been influenced by Al-Ghazli.

Images for kids

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  Skeptics in Raphael's School of Athens painting. 1. Pythodorus 2. Arcesilaus of Pitane 3. Carneades of Cyrene 4. Pyrrho of Elis 5. Timon of Phlius 6. Theodorus the Atheist of Cyrene

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  Sextus Empiricus

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  Augustine of Hippo

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  Michel de Montaigne

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  Marin Mersenne

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  Thomas Hobbes

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  Pierre Bayle by Louis Ferdinand Elle

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  Kant

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  Indian skepticism towards dogmatic statements is illustrated by the famous tale of the Blind men and an elephant, common in Buddhism and Jainism.

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  A Painting of Zhuangzi and his Butterfly Dream

See also

In Spanish: Escepticismo filosófico para niños