The Skeptic and the Veridicalist: On the Difference Between Knowing What There Is and Knowing What Things Are

Veridicalism is an important anti-skeptical strategy that claims that even if we are in a skeptical scenario, our beliefs about the existence of ordinary objects are still true. However, this strategy fails because it raises an equally troubling skepticism about what such objects are. This motivates a reconsideration of the standard formulation of the skeptical argument and undermines other anti-skeptical strategies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 62 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element delves into the essence and construction of skepticism concerning the external world by examining a crucial anti-skeptical approach known as veridicalism. According to veridicalism, even in skeptical contexts, one's beliefs about the existence of ordinary objects remain valid. For instance, even if one finds themselves in a global simulation, objects such as tables exist as simulated entities. Consequently, one's ignorance of whether they are in such a scenario does not invalidate their knowledge of the existence of tables. However, this strategy encounters a significant flaw, as it raises an equally concerning skepticism about the nature of these objects. It prompts questions such as whether the table one currently perceives is a simulated object. The fact that this skepticism is equally troubling suggests that the central skeptical problem revolves around the origins of our experiences, irrespective of whether they qualify as ordinary objects like tables. This motivates a reevaluation of the traditional formulation of the skeptical argument and undermines other anti-skeptical strategies.

ISBN-13: 9781009243322