Philosophy · Year 12 · Epistemology: The Limits of Knowledge · 2.º Período

Philosophical Scepticism

An introduction to local and global scepticism. Students will differentiate between ordinary doubt and philosophical doubt.

TL;DR:Philosophical Scepticism introduces students to the radical questioning of our knowledge claims. Unlike ordinary doubt, which looks for specific reasons to disbelieve something, philosophical scepticism questions the very possibility of knowledge in certain areas. Students distinguish between local scepticism (focused on specific domains like the future or other minds) and global scepticism (which targets all knowledge of the external world).

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA 7172: Epistemology 3.1.4.1

About This Topic

Philosophical Scepticism introduces students to the radical questioning of our knowledge claims. Unlike ordinary doubt, which looks for specific reasons to disbelieve something, philosophical scepticism questions the very possibility of knowledge in certain areas. Students distinguish between local scepticism (focused on specific domains like the future or other minds) and global scepticism (which targets all knowledge of the external world).

This topic is essential for developing the critical 'evaluative' skills required by the AQA National Curriculum. It sets the stage for Descartes' foundationalism and the various responses to the 'Sceptical Challenge'. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of sceptical arguments through 'What if?' scenarios and structured debates.

Key Questions

1. What is the purpose of philosophical scepticism?
2. How does local scepticism differ from global scepticism?
3. Can we ever be certain of anything?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students often think sceptics are just being 'annoying' or 'unrealistic'.

What to Teach Instead

Scepticism is a tool used to test the strength of our justifications. Active learning helps students see that by trying to 'break' our knowledge, we find out what is truly certain and what is just a lucky guess.

Common Misconception

Students confuse 'scepticism' with 'cynicism'.

What to Teach Instead

Cynicism is a negative attitude toward people's motives; scepticism is a formal position on the limits of knowledge. Peer-led definitions can help clarify that a sceptic might be a very happy person who just thinks we can't 'prove' the world exists.

Active Learning Ideas

Think-Pair-Share

Ordinary vs Philosophical Doubt

Students list three things they doubt today (e.g., the weather forecast) and then try to apply a 'global' doubt to the same things. They discuss why philosophical doubt is harder to dismiss.

15 min·Pairs

Simulation Game

The Brain in a Vat

Students are told they are actually brains in a vat being fed data by a computer. They must try to find one piece of evidence from their current surroundings that proves this is false, discovering the difficulty of defeating global scepticism.

25 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk

Types of Scepticism

Stations are set up for 'Local Scepticism', 'Global Scepticism', and 'Methodological Scepticism'. Students move around to find examples for each and rank them by how 'dangerous' they are to everyday life.

30 min·Small Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between local and global scepticism?

Local scepticism targets a specific area of knowledge, such as religious claims or the existence of other minds. Global scepticism is much broader, questioning whether we can know anything at all, including the existence of the external world.

Why do philosophers use sceptical arguments?

Philosophers use scepticism as a 'stress test' for knowledge. By seeing if a belief can survive the most radical doubt, they can determine if that belief is truly foundational or certain.

How can active learning help students understand Philosophical Scepticism?

Scepticism can feel abstract until students are forced to defend their own 'certain' beliefs against a peer playing the role of a sceptic. This 'Socratic' interaction makes the stakes of the argument clear and helps students understand why philosophers like Descartes took these 'crazy' ideas so seriously.

Can you be a sceptic and still live a normal life?

Yes. Most sceptics (like David Hume) argue that while we cannot 'prove' the world exists, we have no choice but to act as if it does for the sake of survival and daily life. This is often called 'mitigated scepticism'.