Philosophical Skepticism - Paperback

by Charles Landesman (Editor), Roblin Meeks (Editor)

Philosophical Skepticism provides a selection of texts drawn from the skeptical tradition of Western philosophy as well as texts written by opponents of skepticism. Taken together with the historical introduction by Landesman and Meeks, these texts clearly illustrate the profound influence that skeptical stances have had on the nature of philosophical inquiry.

• Draws a selection of texts from the skeptical tradition of Western philosophy as well as texts written by opponents of skepticism.
• Spans centuries of skeptical and anti-skeptical arguments, from Socrates to Rorty.
• Includes essays by Plato, Cicero, Diogenes Laertius, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard, Russell, Quine, Nagel, and many others.
• Provides a solid foundation for further study.

Back Jacket

Philosophical Skepticism provides a selection of important writings by both skeptics and opponents of the skeptical tradition of Western philosophy. These writings, together with the historical introduction by Landesman and Meeks, clearly illustrate the profound influence that skeptical stances have had on the nature of philosophical inquiry.

This collection spans the centuries of skeptical and anti-skeptical arguments, from Socrates to Rorty. It includes selections from the writings of Plato, Diogenes Laertius, Cicero, Sextus Empiricus, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard, Russell, Quine, Nagel, and many others. From this collection, readers will gain a sufficient background to engage in further study of skepticism from both classical and contemporary sources.

Author Biography

Charles Landesman is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Hunter College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York. His previous publications include Discourse and Its Presuppositions (1972), Color and Consciousness (1989), The Eye and the Mind (1993), and An Introduction to Epistemology (Blackwell 1996).

Roblin Meeks is a faculty member of the Expository Writing Program at Harvard University. He is currently at work on a book about self-identification.