What is the role of certainty in skepticism and empiricism?

Philosophy Skepticism And Empiricism Questions



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What is the role of certainty in skepticism and empiricism?

In skepticism, certainty plays a crucial role as skeptics argue that it is impossible to achieve absolute certainty or knowledge about the external world. Skeptics question the reliability of our senses and the limitations of our reasoning abilities, leading to a lack of certainty in our beliefs and knowledge.

On the other hand, in empiricism, certainty is also important but is approached differently. Empiricists believe that knowledge is derived from sensory experience and observation. They emphasize the importance of empirical evidence and direct observation to establish certainty in our beliefs and knowledge.

While skepticism challenges the possibility of certainty, empiricism seeks to attain certainty through empirical evidence. Both perspectives acknowledge the significance of certainty, but skepticism questions its attainability, while empiricism relies on it to validate knowledge.