Global Epistemological Skepticism

Epistemological skepticism is the idea that individuals lack knowledge or justification for a specific group of propositions (Barnett, 2014). Skepticism with respect to all propositions is known as global skepticism, and it reveals that knowledge is nonexistent (2014). The regress problem is a difficulty in epistemology, where an idea has to be justified, because the justification itself has to have further reasoning (2014). The infinite regress argument concludes that individuals lack justification and knowledge (since knowledge requires justification) through its premises, but non-doxastic evidence ends the regress argument without circularity or arbitrariness.

The infinite regress argument dates back to Sectus Empiricus, 3rd century C.E. (2014). It states that in order for a belief to be justified, it must be supported by reasons that form either a finite, linear chain of beliefs, a finite, circular chain of beliefs, or an infinite chain of beliefs (2014). However, all of these methods of reasoning contain flaws. A finite, linear chain must end on an unproven statement or assumption, which cannot justify anything (2014). Since it terminates with a lack of further justification, knowledge is similarly absent. Circular reasoning cannot justify anything (2014), because the justifications continue to justify each other back and forth. Lastly, the finite minds of human beings are not capable of having an infinite number of beliefs (2014). Therefore, due to these flaws, individuals lack justification and knowledge. Skeptics abide by this conclusion and believe that, indeed, justification and knowledge are nonexistent. Nevertheless, there are several potential responses to this case of skepticism.

Infinitism is the view that indiv...

... middle of paper ...

...gainst the existence of knowledge has been supported by the regress problem and infinite regress argument. The questioning of knowledge and its existence has led to many responses in order to counteract the skeptics’ ideas. Flaws have been observed in the perspective of the skeptics and responses have arisen from these inconsistencies. However, difficulties have been seen in the views of infinitism, coherentism, and foundationalism. The idea that concludes the argument of infinite regress without portraying the flaws seen in other responses is that of non-doxastic evidence.

Works Cited

Barnett, C. B. (2014, January). Skepticism: The Regress Problem. Paper presented at St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY.

Feinberg, J., & Shafer-Landau, R. (2013). Reason and responsibility: Readings in some basic problems of philosophy. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.