The Philosophy Of Pessimism And Skepticism - 1328 Words

How do we know things for certain? How can I be certain of the things I consider to be true? The only way we can know things for certain is through doubting the things we think we know, also known as skepticism. In this paper I will argue that skepticism is the best way to know things for certain because it acknowledges the presence of cognitive dissonance, self-justification and the things we can learn by questioning. I will proceed as follows: I will outline the concepts of skepticism, according to Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson, and the concepts of rationalism, according to Renà © Descartes. Then, I will compare rationalism and skepticism by explaining how challenging the ways we think we know stuff and cognitive dissonance can affect how we perceive things through skepticism and describing Descartes many principles based off of reason and how he uses these reasons to slowly affirm the things we must know for certain through rationalism. Epistemology is the study of how we attain knowledge or why we believe stuff in the way we do. There are many branches in epistemology to explain how we learn and comprehend things, but also how we can know things for certain. Skepticism, a concept within epistemology, is a way we know the things we do with certainty. By using doubt and questioning how we perceive things, we can examine the validity of the knowledge and ideas that people seem sure of or believe must be true. By assessing things skeptically, it allows us to comprehend thatShow MoreRelatedThe Enlightenment Was Rife With Skepticism, Self-Reliance1578 Words   |  7 PagesThe Enlightenment was rife with skepticism, self-reliance and discovery. Voltaire’s Candide boasts each within its three main themes; the critique of philosophical systems (optimism, pessimism, and empiricism,) along with social criticism, and utopian ideologies. Voltaire viciously attacks the Church, the Aristocracy, and the Military. This was perfectly in line with the core ideals behind the enlightenment, a time where philosophers believed in using reason and scientific experiments in lieu ofRead MoreThe On The Criminal Justice System984 Words   |  4 Pagesdemoralization influence of what David Rothman called, the failure model spread into most areas of criminal justice. Garland was influenced by the negative research reports and increasing crime rates by a pervasive sense of disillusionment and pessimism, because one institution after another was viewed as ineffective or counter-productive†. (p.61) Pollock (2006) in his book â€Å"ethical dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice† stated that â€Å"Our society today believed that many people repress theirRead MoreBlack and White Essay823 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sunset Limited, Black conveys Kierkegaard’s philosophy through his own life and words. In the beginning of the play, Black and White argue over the meaning of life—the former loving it, the latter trying to end it. Early on, Black tries to identify with White’s suicidal argument by noting that â€Å"Suffering and human destiny are the same thing† (55). Of course, Black’s admittance does not mean he believes in White’s argument, but instead that he understands White’s pain. Likewise, Kierkegaard’s descriptionRead MoreAn Analysis of Conrads Heart of Darkness Essay1465 Words   |  6 Pages In the twentieth century, nihilistic themes, such as moral degeneration , mans bestial instincts at the core of the soul, and cosmic purposelessness, have preoccupied many works of literature and philosophy. Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness is no exception. In his novel, Conrad uses a unique writing style to explore mans fundamental fallibility and moral confusion in an existential world through his characters journey on the Congo River. Read MoreWatching What W Say2255 Words   |  9 Pagescontextualists, language, more so the context in which it is used, also plays a role in the way establish knowledge. In this paper we will focus on two contextual theorists, Ludwig Wittgenstein and David Lewis. We will discuss their theories and few skepticisms about their theories. A major contextualist claim is that our attributions of knowledge can vary from person to person based on the user’s context. The way we utter sentences, the many different contexts in which we use the words to form statementsRead MoreAtheism, Nihilism, And Nihilism1625 Word s   |  7 Pagesthey had in common with atheism or where they differ apart. Nihilism is the belief that all morals, values, and belief have no foundation. Nothing in the world has real existence and life is meaningless. This view is often look rather with pessimism or skepticism. Nihilism comes from the Latin word ‘Nihil’ which means â€Å"nothing, not anything, and that which does not exist.† It is also used in a lot of philosophical position. Thus such as that â€Å"there is nothing at all; that we know nothing at all; thatRead MoreIn The Future Of An Illusion, Sigmund Freud Gives A Genealogical1541 Words   |  7 Pagesquo. However, despite the significant role of the religious illusion for both society and the individual, Freud is optimistic that it can be overcome and replaced by scientific and secular ideals. In this essay, I will give an account of Freud’s pessimism regarding the problem of religion, which is expressed through his genealogical account of religion and the concerns raised by his interlocutor. Then I will dis cuss Freud’s optimism towards eliminating religion and his attempt to address the concernsRead MoreLiterature And Literature : The Novel One Of The Most Interesting And Significant Expression Of Humanity 1854 Words   |  8 Pagesmatters of religion, it gave rise to skepticism and agnosticism. No doubt there was much questioning, much criticism of traditional belief sin the Victorian era also, but the Victorian writer was not critical of the very fundamentals of the very basis of social and moral order. As R.A. Scott- James puts it, the twentieth century has, for characteristic, to put everything, in every sphere of life, to the question, and secondly, in the light of this skepticism, to reform, to reconstruct, to acceptRead More The Naive Protagonists of Candide and Forrest Gump Essay example3382 Words   |  14 Pagesprotagonists to illustrate their view of the world in which they live. Nevertheless, Candide and Forrest, surrounded by a corrupt society, and bombarded by various character defining events, are able to come to a higher understanding as to their philosophy of life.      Candide, by Voltaire, is a story about an optimistic young man who encounters various misfortunes on his search for an ideal world. Having unfortunately been kicked out of his home for the love of Lady Cunegonde, Candide suffersRead MoreBranches of Philosophy8343 Words   |  34 PagesBranches of philosophy The following branches are the main areas of study: †¢ Metaphysics investigates the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology. †¢ Epistemology is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. Among its central concerns has been the challenge posed by skepticism and the relationships between truth, belief, and justification. †¢ Ethics, or moral philosophy, is concerned with questions of how