What is the historical background of skepticism?

Philosophy Skepticism And Empiricism Questions



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What is the historical background of skepticism?

The historical background of skepticism can be traced back to ancient Greece, particularly to the works of philosophers such as Pyrrho of Elis and Sextus Empiricus. Pyrrho is considered the founder of skepticism and his teachings were further developed by later philosophers. Skepticism emerged as a response to the dogmatic and confident claims made by other philosophical schools at the time. The skeptics questioned the possibility of attaining certain knowledge and emphasized the importance of suspending judgment. They argued that our senses can be deceptive, our reasoning flawed, and that different cultures and individuals may have different perspectives and beliefs. Skepticism continued to evolve throughout history, with various schools of thought and philosophers contributing to its development.