1. 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

2. 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:

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

4. 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:

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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: