• What is skepticism?
• Characteristics of skepticism
• Representatives of skepticism
• Skepticism and dogmatism

We explain what skepticism is in its common and philosophical use. In addition, its main representatives and characteristics.

Skepticism is the tendency not to believe statements without evidence.

What is skepticism?

When we speak of skepticism, we generally mean a attitude of doubt towards what others proclaim as facts. In other words, the tendency not to believe the opinions right off the bat, beliefs or statements of third parties, unless supported by the necessary evidence. Thus, a skeptical person is the complete opposite of a credulous person.

However, in the philosophy Classical skepticism was also called a current of thought that flourished in the greek antiquity, and that it was based on doubt, that is, that it denied the possibility that Humans we can get to know the truth of something.

Its main representative was the philosopher Pyrrho (c. 360-c. 270 BC), who said that “he did not affirm anything, he only expressed his opinion”, since that was the spirit of the skeptics: an indifferent position before the world.

The term "skeptic", thus, comes from the Greek word skeptikós, derived from the Greek verb skeptesthai ("Look" or "observe"). Skeptical philosophers, thus, called themselves skeptikoi, “Those who examine” or “those who investigate”, since they were dissatisfied with the reasons presented regarding the possibility of knowledge human.

These philosophers challenged the great teachers such as Plato, Aristotle or the Stoics, opposing any form of dogmatic thought.

It is said that the skeptics' desire for disbelief reached such levels that nothing was true or false, neither bad or good, nor heretical or sacred. This is how they put into practice the epoch or suspension of the trial, and could reach the ataraxia or peace of mind. The precepts of skepticism can be expressed as follows:

• Human knowledge is impossible, and nothing can be affirmed of anything.
• Everything that we know through the senses is unreal.
• The reality it cannot adjust to the concepts that we handle mentally.
• The things we know come to us by chance, or by habit.

Characteristics of skepticism

In summary, skepticism was characterized by the following:

• He doubted in advance any affirmation or fact, of which incontrovertible evidence is not presented. In this way, to doubt any possible statement or assertion until reaching the suspension of the trial and indifference to the world.
• It encompassed different philosophical positions and positions, depending on each skeptical thinker. It reached its most productive posture centuries later, during the Renaissance European.
• Skeptics were unpopular in Ancient Greece, having a reputation as "disruptors" of rites, legends Y myths popular. What they never questioned was the Socratic system of hypothesis Y deductions.
• Skepticism disappeared after the fall of the Greco-Roman civilization, but reappeared centuries later during the Renaissance, when it became a tool against the dogmatism medieval Christian, fundamental for the emergence of the scientific thought.

Representatives of skepticism

Pirrón knew many cultures that allowed him to question the truths of his people.

Among the main representatives of skepticism are:

• Pyrrho (c. 360- c. 270 BC). Father of skepticism, it is said that he was a great traveler who met cultures far away next to the army of Alexander the Great. All that background allowed him to question many of the traditional truths of his people.
• Timon the Silographer (c. 320-230 BC). Greek philosopher and satirical poet, he was a disciple of Pyrrho and Stilpon of Megara, and almost everything we know about him comes from the work of Diogenes Laercio. It is said that he was extremely eloquent, but poor.
• Sixth Empirical (c. 160-210). Roman physician and philosopher of Greek origin, to whom we owe most of the precepts of Pyrrhonian skepticism, in his work Pyrrhonic Sketches.
• Lucian of Samósata (125-181). Roman writer of Syrian origin who used the Greek language, belonging to the so-called Second Sophistics. Together with Sexto Empírico they were the last skeptics of the Antiquity.

Skepticism and dogmatism

Dogmatism is the stream of thought contrary to skepticism, since it consists of an attitude that does not accept questions, nor does it offer evidence regarding what it accepts or defends, but rather demands its full and total acceptance. In fact, the philosophical current of dogmatism defended the capacity of human reason to know the truth.