I would add that we need both: pragmatic ideas and epistemic ideas (I think that the "average person" also has lots of philosophical questions on their mind even if the pragmatic ones might often be more pressing).
Which skepticism is that? The inverted dogmatism or Pyrrhonistic skepticism? The later is possibly closer to Reid's position of "Sceptics can accept Reid’s anti-sceptical argument because they are epistemic sceptics while Reid’s argument is a pragmatic one." due to the way judgement can be suspended and forced-choices are dismissed, this is not always politically pragmatic in a theocratic regime however.
thanks for this, Meika! I think both types of skepticism are concerned here. As long as they make a distinction between philosophical beliefs or attitudes and everyday attitudes (like David Hume) they can accept the pragmatic argument. Of course, what is or isn't politically pragmatic is a different topic!
PS: Skeptics who restrict their skepticism to certain domains (knowledge about the external world, for instance) could also accept the pragmatic argument, taking it as a conceptual argument.
Many thanks, Mike! Much appreciated!
I would add that we need both: pragmatic ideas and epistemic ideas (I think that the "average person" also has lots of philosophical questions on their mind even if the pragmatic ones might often be more pressing).
Which skepticism is that? The inverted dogmatism or Pyrrhonistic skepticism? The later is possibly closer to Reid's position of "Sceptics can accept Reid’s anti-sceptical argument because they are epistemic sceptics while Reid’s argument is a pragmatic one." due to the way judgement can be suspended and forced-choices are dismissed, this is not always politically pragmatic in a theocratic regime however.
thanks for this, Meika! I think both types of skepticism are concerned here. As long as they make a distinction between philosophical beliefs or attitudes and everyday attitudes (like David Hume) they can accept the pragmatic argument. Of course, what is or isn't politically pragmatic is a different topic!
PS: Skeptics who restrict their skepticism to certain domains (knowledge about the external world, for instance) could also accept the pragmatic argument, taking it as a conceptual argument.