The Uses and Misuses of Philosophical Scepticism

Hansson, Oskar

doi:10.1111/theo.12123

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…We do not expect philosophy students to leave a seminar on Cartesian skepticism in serious doubt whether their friends and families exist or are only figments of their minds. Instead, we expect them to have gained some insights on different types of knowledge and on the problematic nature of epistemic certainty (Hansson 2017). In the same way, deliberations on how our mathematical knowledge depends on our technological means for preserving it can engender insights on the nature of mathematical knowledge.…”

Section: The Technology Dependence Of Mathematical Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Technology and Mathematics

Hansson

2019

Philos. Technol.

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In spite of their practical importance, the connections between technology and mathematics have not received much scholarly attention. This article begins by outlining how the technology-mathematics relationship has developed, from the use of simple aide-mémoires for counting and arithmetic, via the use of mathematics in weaving, building and other trades, and the introduction of calculus to solve technological problems, to the modern use of computers to solve both technological and mathematical problems. Three important philosophical issues emerge from this historical résumé: how mathematical knowledge depends on technology, the definition of the hybrid concept of a (technological) computation, and the (perhaps surprising) usefulness of mathematics in technology. Each of these issues is briefly discussed, and it is shown that in order to analyze them, we need to combine tools and ideas from both the philosophy of technology and the philosophy of mathematics. In conclusion, it is argued that much more of interest can be found in the historically and philosophically unexplored terrains of the technology-mathematics relationship.

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Section: The Technology Dependence Of Mathematical Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Technology and Mathematics

Hansson

2019

Philos. Technol.

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“…Do we clarify why it is irrational to apply scepticism only to certain claims that one does not want to believe in (or does not want others to believe in)? Such selective uses of radical doubt have a prominent role in the argumentation of conspiracy theorists and science deniers (Hansson, 2017). When discussing the fact–value distinction, do we treat it only as an issue for individual rationality, or do we also bring up its implications in social and political contexts?…”

Section: A Checklistmentioning

confidence: 99%

Philosophy and Alternative Realities

Hansson¹

2021

Theoria

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“…Thirdly, philosophy has sown a dragon-seed by its way of teaching the method of philosophical scepticism, or radical doubt (Hansson 2017b). By doubting what we usually do not doubtsuch as each other's existenceand continuing to raise doubts as long as it is at all logically possible to do so, the philosophical sceptic can distinguish between different forms of knowledge and knowledge claims.…”

Section: What Does This Mean For Philosophy?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social constructionism and climate science denial

Hansson

2020

Euro Jnl Phil Sci

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It has been much debated whether epistemic relativism in academia, for instance in the form of social constructivism, the strong programme, deconstructionism, and postmodernism, has paved the way for the recent upsurge in science denial, in particular climate science denial. In order to provide an empirical basis for this discussion, an extensive search of the social science literature was performed. It showed that in the 1990s, climate science was a popular target among academic epistemic relativists. In particular, many STS scholars used it as an allegedly clear example of claims by natural scientists that should be treated as mere social constructions, rather than as reports on the actual state of the natural world. A few connections between social constructivists and corporate science denialism were also uncovered, but the extent of such connections could not be determined. With few exceptions, the stream of criticism of climate science from academic relativists has dwindled since the 1990s. One reason for this seems to be that the contrarian position lost its attraction when it became associated with corporate and right-wing propagandists.

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The Uses and Misuses of Philosophical Scepticism

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

Technology and Mathematics

Technology and Mathematics

Philosophy and Alternative Realities

Social constructionism and climate science denial

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