TY - JOUR
T1 - Skepticism and inquiry
AU - Goldberg, Sanford C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2020.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - In this paper, I am interested in skepticism's downstream effects on further inquiry. To account for these downstream effects, we need to distinguish (i) the (skepticismsupporting) reasons for doubting whether p, (ii) one's other background beliefs bearing on the prospects that further inquiry would improve one's epistemic position on p, and (iii) the value one assigns to determining whether p. I advance two claims regarding skepticism's downstream effects on inquiry. First, it is characteristic of "radical"forms of skepticism that (i) is sufficient to undermine the prospect described in (ii). By contrast (and second), ordinary forms of skepticism, which can be identified in connection with (ii), can actually be a boon to inquiry by enhancing (iii). In such cases, having reasons for skeptical doubt is not merely compatible with inquiring further, but also serves to motivate and to help frame such inquiry.
AB - In this paper, I am interested in skepticism's downstream effects on further inquiry. To account for these downstream effects, we need to distinguish (i) the (skepticismsupporting) reasons for doubting whether p, (ii) one's other background beliefs bearing on the prospects that further inquiry would improve one's epistemic position on p, and (iii) the value one assigns to determining whether p. I advance two claims regarding skepticism's downstream effects on inquiry. First, it is characteristic of "radical"forms of skepticism that (i) is sufficient to undermine the prospect described in (ii). By contrast (and second), ordinary forms of skepticism, which can be identified in connection with (ii), can actually be a boon to inquiry by enhancing (iii). In such cases, having reasons for skeptical doubt is not merely compatible with inquiring further, but also serves to motivate and to help frame such inquiry.
KW - Defeater
KW - Doubt
KW - Inquiry
KW - Scientific dissent
KW - Skepticism
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U2 - 10.1163/22105700-BJA10019
DO - 10.1163/22105700-BJA10019
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85097298368
SN - 2210-5697
VL - 10
SP - 304
EP - 324
JO - International Journal for the Study of Skepticism
JF - International Journal for the Study of Skepticism
IS - 3-4
ER -