這門課主要討論三種哲學的懷疑論。第一種是關於歸納法的懷疑論 (skepticism about induction)，懷疑論者認為，雖然我們可能知道我們可以直接接觸到的各種事物 (例如，當我們看到出太陽時，我們可以知道現在是晴天)，但是我們不知道我們基於可能出錯的推論而相信的任何事物 (例如，我們不知道明天太陽會升起)。第二種是笛卡爾懷疑論 (Cartesian skepticism)，懷疑論者認為，雖然我們可能知道自己的心靈的內容 (例如，你可能知道你似乎正在看某個課程大綱)，但是我們不知道關於外在世界的任何事 (例如，你不知道你前面有一個螢幕)。第三種是皮浪懷疑論 (Pyrrhonian skepticism)，主張我們一無所知，包括我們不知道皮浪懷疑論是真的。
這門課所使用的主要教材是 Juan Comesaña 和 Manuel Comesaña 所撰寫的 Skepticism: The Basics (2022) 一書。為了讓讀者能了解上述三種哲學的懷疑論，他們首先介紹哲學中對於知識 (knowledge) 的一些理論，提供了解懷疑論所必備的基礎。那麼，依據 Juan Comesaña 和 Manuel Comesaña 的安排，我們會先認識 (或複習) 關於知識的一些理論，然後才進入懷疑論。
This course focuses on three philosophical scepticisms. The first is skepticism about induction. Skeptics believe that although we may know various things that we have direct access to (for example, when we see the sun rise, we can know that it is sunny) , but we don't know anything we believe based on inferences that may be wrong (e.g., we don't know the sun will rise tomorrow). The second is Cartesian skepticism. Skeptics believe that although we may know the contents of our own minds (for example, you may know that you seem to be looking at a course syllabus), we do not know anything about the external world. anything (e.g. you don't know there's a screen in front of you). The third is Pyrrhonian skepticism, which claims that we know nothing, including that we don’t know that Pyrrhonian skepticism is true.
The main text used in this course is the book Skepticism: The Basics (2022) by Juan Comesaña and Manuel Comesaña. In order to allow readers to understand the skepticism of the above three philosophies, they first introduce some theories about knowledge in philosophy to provide the necessary foundation for understanding skepticism. So, according to Juan Comesaña and Manuel Comesaña, we will first recognize (or review) some theories about knowledge before entering into skepticism.
Juan Comesaña & Manuel Comesaña (2022). Skepticism: The Basics. Routledge.
Juan Comesaña & Manuel Comesaña (2022). Skepticism: The Basics. Routledge.
| 評分項目 Grading Method | 配分比例 Grading percentage | 說明 Description |
|---|---|---|
| 課堂參與課堂參與 class participation |
20 | 請多參與討論 |
| 口頭報告和期末論文口頭報告和期末論文 Oral presentation and final paper |
80 | 口頭報告約30分鐘，論文約5000字 |
