Skepticism

I was wondering if there is any one thing that cannot be doubted. For me, I don’t think there is.

Decartes argument falls apart, but the cogito ergo sum isn’t in itself necessarily true, because poeple refute existence, regardless of thinking substance.

You cannot doubt that you doubt.

I’ll try to think of something else.

I’m not sure about that. I could just be equivocating until I justify a conclusion that suits my needs as opposed to my morals. Since there is evidence that we actually make decisions before we consciously recognize that we have, it could be argued that doubt is just a mechanism of overcoming.

But . . . I don’t doubt that radical skepticism is a worthless stance.

That’s clever. I wouldn’t have thought of it. Thanx. I’ll definately consider it.

The princicple of non-contradiction cannot be doubted. You would actually be using it if you tried to argue against it (because you’d be giving reasons for your view, which you wish to be taken as true and not as false) and you would assent to its truth if you remained silent (because you understand its meaning).

Here is a quote that touches on this topic:

“To begin with, by seriously affirming ‘I doubt everything,’ one implies that one knows (1) what doubt is, and (2) that doubt differs from knowledge and therefore (3) one knows what knowledge is. Further, the sceptic knows (4) the meaning of the proposition about which he doubts, and (5) the reason why he doubts. Again, by suspending his judgment about the proposition under consideration, he knows (6) that the reasons put forward for it are insufficient to win his assent, and therefore (7) he knows what these reasons are. Finally, since he holds on to his scepticism lest he should fall into error, (8) he knows what error is, and (9) that he does not wish to err, and also (10) that he experiences a desire for truth, etc. . . .” (Fleming, Foundations of Philosophy, pp. 27f.; italics given. See also Bittle, Reality and the Mind, pp. 47-50)

This was quoted in Mario Derksen’s paper, Against the Skeptics: How Thomistic Realism Refutes Radical Skepticism.