Methodical Doubt: a Criterion of Indubitable Knowledge Dr Methodical Doubt: a Criterion of Indubitable Knowledge Dr. Ramesh Chander Assistant Prof. (Philosophy) Govt. P. G. College Rajouri

Origin Of the word Skepticism: Etymologically, the word skepticism comes from the Greek skepsis meaning Inquiry: It implies either doubting the possibility of knowledge or an attitude of doubt or Suspension of judgment about the very possibility of knowledge:

Different conceptions of Skepticism: The notion of Skepticism per se: Mitigated notion of Skepticism: Universal notion of Skepticism:

Objective and problematic of the Paper: How far skepticism as a methodical approach leads to knowledge proper: How far Descartes’ methodical doubt successful in laying the foundation of epistemology and metaphysics: Whether human intellect has the capacity to know metaphysical entities with certainty:

History of Skepticism: Ancient Greek Skepticism: Skepticism in the Medieval Period: Modern skepticism:

Was Descartes skeptic? Descartes used Skepticism as a mere tool to lay Epistemological and Metaphysical foundations of knowledge: He was not skeptic; rather he considers knowledge as a sort of certitude: Universal, Necessary and Demonstrable: Universal Mathematics: Scientific approach

Method of doubt per se: On the testimony of sensory experience: Dreaming argument Truths of Sciences: demon argument However, that I doubt cannot be further doubted: one certain truth may be taken as the foundation of philosophy

Could one’s thinking be considered as the ground of one’s existence? Substance -attribute relationship gets disturbed even if thinking is taken as an essential attribute: Not an inference but a simple fact of self-evident axiom: The term “therefore” has two meanings: a) a step in inference; b) a relation of necessary connection A contradiction in substance-attribute relationship Essence precedes existence

Descartes has made three assumptions: That there is some certain knowledge about the actual world: Again, what is “clear and distinct” is true can be proved to be true: The deductive knowledge involving memory can have the same certainty as intuitive knowledge: Leibnitz, Gassendi and Hoffding: pure subjective criteria

Conclusion: Usage of the reasoning of a-Priorism: No logical transition from “I think” to “I exist” The human reason has its own limitations and thus cannot adequately know transcendental/ metaphysical entities: The knowing self is ever knower and cannot be treated as an object of knowledge: