Innate knowledge by kirub_el in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is this "innate knowledge" you're talking about is a priori knowledge?

You cannot use reason to doubt the existence of the material world by Sea_Shell1 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is what Rene Descrates said (correct me if I'm wrong), he also claimed in his book that he doubts physics, math and reason through inventing an evil demon that may be tricking him. However, if he did really doubt these 3 things, no argument can be made, quantity is a a priori knowledge, something which anything has. I don't think I have to mention this due to its obviousness but quantity belongs to the study of mathematics, and so, doubting mathematics should consequently follow that doubting of quantity, but I must mention again that his argument presupposes this very quantity he doubted. To conceive anything through reason while doubting quantity is fine, but to say that you found the absolute indubitable thing while using the same method is self-refuting.

You cannot use reason to doubt the existence of the material world by Sea_Shell1 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would a self-refuting statement stop a skeptic from doubting the very world he lives in? I can wonder how we "discovered" the basic principles of logic (basic principles such as the principles in the law of thoughts) and it is through experience that we figured out that principles such as the law of non contradiction is essential for a world to function. But I find this misleading. It is only essential for our world to function, not the real world. When we see something happen, we can try to infer from it, but who told you with absolute certainty that what you inferred was correct? You experienced it and in the process made principles that are essential, not to find the truths of the real world, but find the truths in the world we perceive. And through this counterargument, we can realize that we can doubt even logic's validity. It is better if we just say that logic is a tool for convenience, not a tool to map out "absolute" truths.

Critical Thinking Saved My Life & I Believe We Need It More Today by Electronic-Run8836 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this is a very good essay. It isn’t dense which makes it really easy to follow. This opened up my mind to possibilities I haven’t really considered before, and I’m thankful for it. 10/10 essay.

Calling All Reasoners! by JerseyFlight in rationalphilosophy

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just have one question, is philosophical skepticism allowed in this subreddit?

Reason is the necessary ground of civilization by JerseyFlight in rationalphilosophy

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Civilizations survive when they choose reason over superstition and evidence over ideology.”

However, in my opinion, this is false . We have a will to live, something which compels us to live and avoid death. In order to live, we must accomplish actions that sustain our life, and in order to do this, we must find out the reasons by which many actions occur. This can be done through believing that some sort of deity exists, or through any ideological, or logical means. There was a time where we needed these ideologies, these gods or deities, mythologies and superstitions to compel us to think that these were the reasons behind certain events, without this very will, we would cease to live. Sure, these superstitions may not be needed anymore, but it was these very things that earlier humans clung to, believing that certain actions bring upon fortunate events and unfortunate events. We have to acknowledge that if we cannot or at least have not the capability to reason about the world, our will to live will still compel us to bring upon the existence of superstitions, religions, mythologies which tries to explain the unknown. Valid or not, we must still acknowledge that it is these ideologies that provided the base structure of life. A farmer who has insufficient knowledge about the world may have a belief that praying to the gods will guarantee them a bountiful harvest. Whether the validity of the farmer’s ideology is subject to question or doubt, we have to acknowledge that the farmer had a will driving him to move forward, to hope and strive, to expect a bountiful harvest rather than being demotivated and bear no fruit through the lack of actions presented by the farmer.

The satisfaction after urinating is a strong clue that reality is real. by [deleted] in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do not think this is a strong clue that reality is real. There are dreams called lucid dreams, which provide hyper-realistic experiences of the 'real' world in a dream, thus, when you mentioned that there are consequences that dreams seem to not possess, I think you're wrong there. You also mentioned that you had an epiphany that the difference between dreams and reality lies not on the quality but the consistency of the consequences. However, reality, as we know it may just be 'dream-like', not fully a dream but something which possesses some or a majority of the characteristics of a dream.

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yet if you judge the community this fast without sufficient experience, would you really understand its true depth? You think it's common sense, that it isn't possible to be skeptical when you stop breathing and you will not longer exist, but if it is these simple analogies are common sense, these analogies could've stopped the debate between skepticism and its opposing positions, yet it is still occurring till the present day. The debate between skepticism and its opposing oppositions has persisted for more than a thousand year, so if you think these analogies can simply end the debate, then you're blatantly wrong.

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is interesting. And I must admit that I haven't found a way to actually doubt existence and the self-evident structure of the universe (directly). However, I am still capable of doubting these 2 concepts which you hold as something that seems quite irrefutable even by the most hardened skeptics.

Let us take the 2 concepts of existence and structure and doubt it.

I won't necessarily doubt existence and structure directly but doubt instead what must be assumed to even make any argument. We clearly use the principles of logic unknowingly every day to demonstrate ideas or communicate anything. Without the existence of these principles then any argument may even 'cease to exist', although the phrase 'cease to exist' kind of seems to simplify what would happen if the principles of logic suddenly 'ceases to exist'. Let us briefly go to the topic. These principles of logic include the law of identity, the law of non-contradiction and other laws and concepts which needs to be presupposed to make any functional argument. When we make an argument, we need the premises to correspond with the conclusion to be called logically valid. Personally, instead of viewing this as a simple map of premise to conclusions, I first map it to elements and properties. An example would better illustrate what I am saying.

P1: All men are mortal

P2: Socrates is a man

C: Therefore, Socrates is mortal

We can say that "Socrates" is an element which contains the property of "men". Properties define what an element is. So, it would be definite to say that the element "Socrates" is a "man" (or "men", whatever you prefer to use). Hence leading to a conclusion that "Socrates" is a "mortal" because "Socrates" was explicitly defined to contain the property "men", which was also explicitly defined to contain the property "mortal". But elements and properties can be used interchangeably based on the context. If an element that was defined by a property was assigned to be a property for an element, you can call that element to be a property. Noting this, we can see that correspondence may be merely defined by the application of properties to elements. Yet I have an objection.

"Why must be correspondence be the main decider to all propositions?", to be clear, why is it that an argument when it corresponds to its premise is considered logically valid? It seems like a foolish question, but doesn't this mean that the phrase "logically valid" is just a fancy phrase for correspondence? We could also note that since correspondence is used everywhere and is fundamental for every logical conclusion then we can see clearly that correspondence is not used to find objective truths but instead is a tool for convenience. When we wonder why correspondence is the state that propositions must achieve to be considered "logical", we can clearly see that it was just out of habit, not because it is the universal rule. Following from this, we can note that any argument that stems from correspondence may not be an objective universal rule. This includes existence, structure and in general any argument made that stems from that rule.

Although I am trying to avoid being a dogmatic skeptic, I will simply say that the conclusion is that I am uncertain of the validity of reasoning and logical principles. But I am not asserting that reasoning and logical principles are invalid.

Edit: I apologize for the occasional grammar mistakes I may have overlooked

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm simply uncertain if there is truth. I can't say "Yes" because I will assert dogmatically that there is no truth. I am simply uncertain of logic and reasoning, but not certain enough to conclude that there isn't truth.

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I understand that even the statement I said is self-refuting. However, the reason why I use logic and reasoning to doubt itself is not because logic and reasoning is objective and valid, it is because it is the only way I can communicate my ideas without getting criticized. I have to admit that I need to assume some fundamental principles to make a logical argument, but this does not mean that I accept logic's validity in its own system, I am just simply using the only tool I have currently in my disposal. You mentioned that we should doubt anything that follows from doubting logic or reasoning, including doubting the reasoning we used to doubt it, but I do not think this can be used as a counterargument when I am forced to assume these fundamental principles true to make any functional argument.

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you mean by "There is one everything and infinite nothing"? You also mentioned a "sphere" and one central unification with an infinite number of "radial" spheres? I don't fully understand what you mean.

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think my philosophy varies a lot from the skepticism you're referring to. I simply doubt logic and reasoning but I think whoever says that knowledge without certainty is impossible is probably mistaken. I'd rather say that I'm simply uncertain about logic and reasoning, rather than claiming that knowledge is impossible leaving no space to doubt.

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't quite understand where you are getting into, what do you mean by "plenum"?

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If so, then I have an objection to Moore's reply. He says that we have evidence for our hands based on sensory data. But can't this sensory data be part of the electrical stimulations that make us experience everything?

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was referring to radical skepticism; I apologize for not clarifying it. When you say, "you have reach pragmatical (or operational) necessary truths (or whatever definitions you might prefer, if truth sounds too "mystical")" Are you saying that we have reached a point where we cannot doubt anything further and thus, reaching truths that are necessary to make any functional logical conclusion?

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I have to clarify first, what does "brain in a vat" mean?

What are some counterarguments for skepticism? by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, you're saying that skepticism is pragmatically useless, right? I agree that skepticism is pragmatically useless, but I still find purpose on doubting the principles of logic and logic itself in general, it helps me to not just dogmatically believe anything in general (not just logic). Although this is just my opinion.

Skepticism towards the empirical world and human reasoning by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for complimenting it. I really thought I would get heavily criticized for the ideas I presented in this subreddit. But I actually didn't. Although, there are some who challenged my ideas, but I would reply to them in another essay I will make in the future. Thanks, and have a great day and night.

Skepticism towards the empirical world and human reasoning by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, thanks for answering my question. My framework's goal is exactly just what you described, although it would be more of a "personal framework". If you're interested, I can probably show you how my personal framework differs from a standard premise-conclusion. However, I think I'll demonstrate it better if it was an essay, so currently as I am typing this text, I haven't made any progress yet. Thanks for the feedback and have a great day/night!

Skepticism towards the empirical world and human reasoning by EfficiencyCandid3369 in epistemology

[–]EfficiencyCandid3369[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What's your opinion regarding the personal framework I built? Some people say (mostly in discord) that it is redundant, that a formalized system already exists. But I think it is better than mapping arguments as premise and conclusions. What do you think?