Stages of Unbelief. What is Skepticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Stages of Unbelief. What is Skepticism - Essay Example What is Skepticism? Skepticism, in philosophical terms, is the point of view, which tackles the philosophical thesis with rational thought and doubtful criticism. According to Gary Gutting in Religious Belief and Religious Skepticism (87), this action leads to thinking and thought, which is based on logic and aimed towards dispute and criticism. Under a narrow view, religious skepticism is considered as that point of view which puts every organized belief or practice, commonly understood as religion, into doubt. This is done through a rational argument on the righteousness, value and ethics of that particular organized religion. Moreover, different philosophers, for example, like Kant, have talked highly about skepticism in their works. Kant has drawn much of his analysis from the works of David Hume, who is regarded as the most formidable skeptic in the history of Western philosophy. Much of Hume’s work on skepticism is drawn from the idea that he endorsed empirical science a nd considered founding the â€Å"science of man† as a heavy project (Thompson n.p.). One, therefore, should understand that when considering skepticism, science would come into debate at a number of times. Since metaphysics is broadly considered to be associated with supernatural, much of Kant’s skepticism draws on the work of metaphysical aspect of philosophy. According to Kant, there are three types of skepticism. These broadly include â€Å"veil of perception†, which seeks legitimacy by drawing inference of the external-mind world to one’s own mental representations. Hence, this concerns metaphysics. Humean skepticism elucidates upon the concepts that are not understood by sensible impressions and knowledge of certain ideas which are not proved by logical law nor known from experience. Therefore, again this concerns much of metaphysics, because the concepts that are not understood from the mind are discussed. Pyrrhonian skepticism establishes a balance between opposing arguments, hence having understanding of both the ideas of knowledge, for example, from the ones who believe in religion, and the ones who do not believe in religion (Forster 1). However, Kant and his approach were against skepticism and his Copernican Revolution tried to fight against skepticism. Kant propagated that religion was largely practice, not theory, and not based on facts, and was something private and subjective. Religion equaled ethics, put simply (Catholic Education n.p.). Christopher Scheitle in â€Å"Religious and Spiritual Change† (59) propagates that skepticism as a whole can be understood in the light of the insight into the way religious people believe blindly in different existing religions in the world. As argued, religious people never criticize their beliefs, because they have this idea that it is a great sin, a contradiction to their religion and that predominantly, it is a sacrilege (Gutting, pp. 93). This promotes the spread of rel igious dogma which leaves no room to doubt over a certain aspect or argue over a certain thing. Hence, followers of religion attempt to blindly follow religion and adopt the ideas of a particular religion as a supreme truth of which no violation can be done. However, they disregard the verity that their beliefs can be paradoxical, confusing, disastrous, unnatural and even antiscientific. This usually occurs because these people communicate with their supernatural being in the most irrational ways which makes their religious beliefs and, hence, religion highly questionable, even to themselves and the society (Zagzebski 212). This religious dogma also gives rise to the fervor of sacrificing their lives for the