The Limits of Doubt

Petr Lom

Description

The Limits of Doubt studies the skepticism of Nietzsche, Sextus Empiricus, Hobbes, Diderot, and Montaigne in order to illustrate how different forms of skepticism can produce remarkably different implications. These include toleration; chastening of character; the prohibition of cruelty; indifference; corrosiveness of liberal principles; and freeing of the will from moral restraint. Demonstrating how skepticism is an underdetermined and unstable category, accompanied by varying unquestioned intentions and beliefs, this book shows how these limits of doubt shape its various possible implications. A unique examination of skepticism from a moral and political perspective, The Limits of Doubt will interest all those concerned with the possibilities for life in an age of doubt.

Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations

Introduction

1 Skepticism and the Politics of Domination

Machiavelli and Descartes
Pierre Charron
Skepticism and the Politics of Irrational Power
Nietzsche, Atheism, and Cruelty
Nietzsche's Politics of Radical Aristocracy
Skepticism and the Limits of Philosophy
The Instability of Skepticism

2 Ancient Skepticism: Happiness Above Truth

The Thought of Sextus Empiricus
A Life Full of Doubt
Skepticism and Truth: Pyrrho on Ethics
The Life of the Skeptic
Ancient Skepticism and Justice
Skepticism: Tranquillity or Despair?

3 Hobbes and the Peace of Dogmatic Skepticism

The Extent of Hobbes's Skepticism
The Political Necessity of Moral Doubt
The Relativization of Truth
The Hobbesian Citizen

4 Denis Diderot and Doubt: Constructive Skepticism

Ancient versus Modern Skepticism
Skepticism and Eclecticism
Rameau's Nephew
The Limits of Doubt
Diderot's Political Thought

5 Skepticism, Cruelty, Custom, and Toleration: Michel de Montaigne

Skepticism and Cruelty
Skepticism and Custom
Montaigne and Custom
Skepticism and Toleration
From Skepticism to Humanism

Conclusion

Notes
Bibliography
Index of Proper Names

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie politique
• Éthique et morale
• Ethique et morale

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 19 juillet 2001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791490341
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Limits of Doubt

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The Limits of Doubt d P

The Moral and Political Implications of Skepticism

Petr Lom

State University of New York Press

Cover image of Giorgio De Chirico’s “The Tower” from Planet Art.

Published by

State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2001 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lom, Petr, 1968– The limits of doubt : the moral and political implications of skepticism / Petr Lom. p. cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5029-5 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5030-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Skepticism—Moral and ethical aspects. 2. Skepticism—Political aspects. I. Title.

B837.L65 2001 149'.73—dc21

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For Tatí

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Even doubters and skeptics can be just as dogmatic as the most besotted believers. —Judith Shklar, “Nineteen Eighty-Four”

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Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations

Introduction

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Contents

Skepticism and the Politics of Domination Machiavelli and Descartes 11 Pierre Charron 14 Skepticism and the Politics of Irrational Power 17 Nietzsche, Atheism, and Cruelty 22 Nietzsche’s Politics of Radical Aristocracy 25 Skepticism and the Limits of Philosophy 26 The Instability of Skepticism 28

Ancient Skepticism: Happiness Above Truth The Thought of Sextus Empiricus 31 A Life Full of Doubt 32 Skepticism and Truth: Pyrrho on Ethics 36 The Life of the Skeptic 39 Ancient Skepticism and Justice 41 Skepticism: Tranquillity or Despair? 43

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