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Sceptical Paths offers a fresh look at key junctions in the history of scepticism. Throughout this collection, key figures are reinterpreted, key arguments are reassessed, lesser-known figures are reintroduced, accepted distinctions are challenged, and new ideas are explored. The historiography of scepticism is usually based on a distinction between ancient and modern. The former is understood as a way of life which focuses on enquiry, whereas the latter is taken to be an epistemological approach which focuses on doubt. The studies in Sceptical Paths not only deepen the understanding of these approaches, but also show how ancient sceptical ideas find their way into modern thought, and modern sceptical ideas are anticipated in ancient thought. Within this state of affairs, the presence of sceptical arguments within Medieval philosophy is reflected in full force, not only enriching the historical narrative, but also introducing another layer to the sceptical discourse, namely its employment within theological settings. The various studies in this book exhibit the rich variety of expression in which scepticism manifests itself within various context and set against various philosophical and religious doctrines, schools, and approaches.

Philosophy --- Judaism --- Jewish studies --- Jewish philosophy. --- Scepticism. --- early modern philosophy. --- medieval philosophy.

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This work, first published in 1985, offers a general interpretation of Hume’s Treatise of Human Nature. Most Hume scholarship has either neglected or downplayed an important aspect of Hume’s position – his scepticism. This book puts that right, examining in close detail the sceptical arguments in Hume’s philosophy.

Skepticism. --- Knowledge, Theory of. --- Hume, David, --- Skepticism --- Knowledge, Theory of --- Hume, David, - 1711-1776. - Treatise of human nature --- Scepticism --- Unbelief --- Agnosticism --- Belief and doubt --- Free thought

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"Although many historical narratives often describe the eighteenth century as an unalloyed 'Age of Reason,' Enlightenment thinkers continued to grapple with the challenges posed by the revival and spread of philosophical skepticism. The imperative to overcome doubt and uncertainty informed some of the most innovative characteristics of eighteenth-century intellectual culture, including not only debates about epistemology and metaphysics but also matters of jurisprudence, theology, history, moral philosophy, and politics. Thinkers of this period debated about, established, and productively worked for progress within the parameters of the increasingly circumscribed boundaries of human reason. No longer considered innate and consistently perfect, reason instead became conceived as a faculty that was inherently fallible, limited by personal experiences, and in need of improvement throughout the course of any individual's life. In its depiction of a complicated, variegated, and diverse Enlightenment culture, this volume examines the process by which philosophical skepticism was challenged and gradually tamed to bring about an anxious confidence in the powers of human understanding. The various contributions collectively demonstrate that philosophical skepticism, and not simply unshakable confidence in the powers of reason or the optimistic assumption about inevitable human improvement, was, in fact, the crucible of the Enlightenment process itself."--

Mouvement des Lumières --- Scepticisme --- Geschiedenis van de filosofie --- anno 1700-1799 --- Enlightenment --- Skepticism --- History --- Europe --- Intellectual life --- Libre pensée --- History of philosophy --- Mouvement des Lumières. --- Libre pensée. --- Aufklärung. --- Eighteenth century. --- Enlightenment. --- Philosophie. --- Skepticism. --- Skeptizismus. --- 1700-1799. --- Scepticism --- Unbelief --- Agnosticism --- Belief and doubt --- Free thought --- Aufklärung --- Eighteenth century --- Philosophy, Modern --- Rationalism

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In 1638, a small book of no more than 92 pages in octavo was published "appresso Gioanne Calleoni" under the title "Discourse on the State of the Jews and in particular those dwelling in the illustrious city of Venice." It was dedicated to the Doge of Venice and his counsellors, who are labelled "lovers of Truth." The author of the book was a certain Simone (Simḥa) Luzzatto, a native of Venice, where he lived and died, serving as rabbi for over fifty years during the course of the seventeenth century.Luzzatto's political thesis is simple and, at the same time, temerarious, if not revolutionary: Venice can put an end to its political decline, he argues, by offering the Jews a monopoly on overseas commercial activity. This plan is highly recommendable because the Jews are "wellsuited for trade," much more so than others (such as "foreigners," for example). The rabbi opens his argument by recalling that trade and usury are the only occupations permitted to Jews. Within the confines of their historical situation, the Venetian Jews became particularly skilled at trade with partners from the Eastern Mediterranean countries. Luzzatto's argument is that this talent could be put at the service of the Venetian government in order to maintain - or, more accurately, recover - its political importance as an intermediary between East and West. He was the first to define the role of the Jews on the basis of their economic and social functions, disregarding the classic categorisation of Judaism's alleged privileged religious status in world history.Nonetheless, going beyond the socio-economic arguments of the book, it is essential to point out Luzzatto's resort to sceptical strategies in order to plead in defence of the Venetian Jews. It is precisely his philosophical and political scepticism that makes Luzzatto's texts so unique.This edition aims to grant access to his works and thought to English-speaking readers and scholars. By approaching his texts from this point of view, the editors hope to open a new path in research into Jewish culture and philosophy that will enable other scholars to develop new directions and new perspectives, stressing the interpenetration between Jews and the surrounding Christian and secular cultures.

Jews --- Skepticism --- Social conditions --- History --- Italy --- Scepticism --- Unbelief --- Agnosticism --- Belief and doubt --- Free thought --- Hebrews --- Israelites --- Jewish people --- Jewry --- Judaic people --- Judaists --- Ethnology --- Religious adherents --- Semites --- Judaism --- Repubblica italiana (1946- ) --- Italian Republic (1946- ) --- Włochy --- Regno d'Italia (1861-1946) --- Iṭalyah --- Italia --- Italie --- Italien --- Italii︠a︡ --- Kgl. Italienische Regierung --- Königliche Italienische Regierung --- إيطاليا --- Īṭāliyā --- جمهورية الإيطالية --- Jumhūrīyah al-Īṭālīyah --- Італія --- Італьянская Рэспубліка --- Italʹi︠a︡nskai︠a︡ Rėspublika --- Италия --- Италианска република --- Italianska republika --- Ιταλία --- Ιταλική Δημοκρατία --- Italikē Dēmokratia --- 이탈리아 --- It'allia --- 이탈리아 공화국 --- It'allia Konghwaguk --- איטליה --- רפובליקה האיטלקית --- Republiḳah ha-Iṭalḳit --- Lýðveldið Ítalía --- Itālija --- Itālijas Republika --- Italijos Respublika --- Olaszország --- Olasz Köztársaság --- イタリア --- Itaria --- イタリア共和国 --- Itaria Kyōwakoku --- Italiya Respublikasi --- Италия Республикаси --- Italii︠a︡ Respublikasi --- Итальянская Республика --- Італійська Республіка --- Italiĭsʹka Respublika --- İtalya --- İtalya Cumhuriyeti --- איטאליע --- Iṭalye --- 意大利 --- Yidali --- 意大利共和国 --- Yidali Gongheguo --- Laško --- Sardinia (Italy) --- Італійська Республіка --- Jewish philosophy --- Jewish History. --- Jüdische Philosophie. --- Philosophie. --- Philosophy. --- Scepticism. --- Skeptizismus. --- Venedig. --- Venice. --- HISTORY / Jewish. --- Philosophy, Jewish --- Philosophy, Israeli --- Religions --- Philosophy --- Religion --- Jewish History