Dogmatism and Skepticism in Epistemology

Dogmatism in Epistemology

Dogmatism is a philosophical position that asserts the possibility of human access to full and reliable knowledge of the reality that surrounds us. It expresses an optimistic view of human scientific capabilities. One philosopher often associated with dogmatism is René Descartes, who argued that human reason, through a correct method, can access the truth.

Two kinds of dogmatism

There are two kinds of dogmatism: naive and absolutist. The first, naive dogmatism, assumes that the subject faithfully mirrors the object, like a clear mirror, copying the object without distortions. It is unaware that some senses may lead us to perceive things in a particular way. This form holds that objective reality is captured as-is and ignores the conceptual, cultural, and historical conditions that shape what is perceived and believed.

The second kind refers to thinkers who claim we know absolute truths. They argue that knowledge should not be based solely on sensory data but on reason; rational evidence is taken to correspond to objective reality and therefore to establish absolute truths. This vision is confronted with skepticism, which raises the possibility of a total lack of access to knowledge.

Skepticism and Its Forms

Skepticism is the view opposed to dogmatism. According to skepticism, knowledge is not (or may not be) possible: we cannot be certain we have found any absolute truth, and we should therefore refrain from firm assent, maintaining an ongoing attitude of inquiry and doubt. For radical skeptics, there is no possibility of objective knowledge.

Historical roots and types

There are various forms of skepticism, some of which trace back to the sophists in antiquity; Pyrrho is often regarded as a founder of this epistemological position. Skepticism, in its most radical form, holds that nothing can be known. It is important to distinguish radical skepticism from methodical (or methodological) skepticism, which played a central role in modern philosophy.

Methodical skepticism

Methodical skepticism is a procedure of systematic questioning. It may reject as dubious any claim for which doubt can be raised, in order to determine whether certain judgments remain undoubted and evident. The aim is to discover firm, indubitable foundations that can support the edifice of knowledge.

Foundational doubts

Ultimately, the rational basis of our beliefs may rest on certain foundational elements—basic knowledge claims or instinctive aspects of life—that cannot be tested or demonstrated in the usual way. When skeptics press this point, we speak of foundational skepticism: the view that there is no ultimate justification for many of our beliefs. From this standpoint, knowledge as certainty is called into question and we may conclude that, after all, we do not possess absolute knowledge.