From: "Tobin Nellhaus" <nellhaus-AT-gis.net> Subject: Re: BHA: Skeptical about skepticism Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 11:58:36 -0500 Hi Ruth-- Actually I agree with your points about skepticism that knowledge is possible, and skepticism about being. However, I think you slightly misread what I said, because I was not equating the two (nor, I think, was Toulmin). The issue perhaps revolves around the role of certainty. Descartes accepts only what we can assert as *absolutely* certain as true or real: hence his "I think, therefore I am." But *that* slogan is precisely the epistemic fallacy, for it identifies existence with thought (knowledge). For Montaigne, knowledge is fallible, because reality extends well beyond the sphere of our present knowledge; but we have knowledge of reality nevertheless, just not absolutely certain knowledge. So in fact, *neither* type of skepticism denies the possibility of knowledge; but they use sharply differing criteria. The skepticism that claims no knowledge is possible pushes Cartesianism even farther (and into a reductio ad absurdum, since then one must say that we don't know for certain that knowledge is impossible!). Thanks, T. --- Tobin Nellhaus nellhaus-AT-gis.net "Faith requires us to be materialists without flinching": C.S. Peirce --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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