Scepticism

Scepticism (Greek, skeptomai, "I consider"), as a philosophical term, denotes the attitude of mind which subjects all belief or opinion, whether based on eeclesiastical dogma or "common sense," to the criticism of the human intellect. The term does not properly connote disbelief or even doubt, but, as the ultimate basis of things is insoluble for human reason, the spirit of doubt may be regarded as its natural outcome. The Sceptics were a Greek school of philosophers founded by Pyrrho (q.v.). The Sophists (q.v.) held very similar views. David Hume (q.v.) is commonly regarded as the representative of modern Scepticism, the latest development of which is Agnosticism (g. v.).