Radical Skepticism & Scientism
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Grand Canyon University *
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103
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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5
Uploaded by ChancellorGoldfinch4089
Radical Skepticism Michael Carrera
College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Grand Canyon University
PHI-103
Gary Osmundsen
February 11
th
, 2024
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Introduction
As each person develops to their fullest potential, they begin to understand and form their own beliefs, knowledge, and worldview (Stewart et al, 2013). These aspects of an individual’s life can also contain speculations of knowledge truth. However, the belief that there is no possibility to obtain knowledge about the external world is referred to as radical skepticism, or external-world skepticism (Osmundsen, 2024). Some individuals’ beliefs are heavily relied on science and one of these correlating concepts is called scientism. Scientism is
the proof and truth of the reality of our world in the physical (Osmundsen, 2024). In this assessment, radical skepticism and scientism will be exemplified as well as recognized for their
implications while also showing their incompatibility with the Christian worldview. Radical Skepticism
To reiterate, radical skepticism is also known as external-world skepticism and is recognized as not having any true knowledge about the external world (Osmundsen, 2024). This is radical skepticism’s main implication for understanding and allows it to have a wide range of effects on knowledge and everyday life. Furthermore, radical skepticism indicates that absolute certainty is not possible, nor can nothing ever be truly factual or known (Stewart et al,
2013). It also exemplifies that an individual is not able to verify if they are misled with information, which subsequently leads to being unable to confirm if what they believe is true (Osmundsen, 2024). A multitude of realities are impossible to disprove as real, hence it could be that the individual may be experiencing this phenomenon (Stewart et al, 2013).
As we begin to perceive from the Christian worldview, knowledge is firmly rooted in God in all of His glory (Osmundsen, 2024). The Christian worldview displays that since an individual believes in God, then meaningful knowledge is achievable by any means with any 2
circumstance (Stewart et al, 2013). This is where radical skepticism and the Christian worldview start to contradict one another in their belief systems. Radical skepticism carries the
notion that an individual is ignorant of everything and cannot hold absolute truth to their beliefs, yet Christians hold that God created them in their perfect design and has interacted with them (Stewart et al, 2013). These two belief systems are incompatible with each other since an individual cannot truly see God himself, and if one is Christian, then there is no possibility of not obtaining absolute knowledge and truth. Scientism
As previously mentioned, scientism is the belief that science is the primary truth of the physical world that we live in (Osmundsen, 2024). This is the primary implication of scientism.
Additionally, this concept can be correlated to the universality of natural sciences while also having the belief that knowledge is only and most reliable when deriving from empirical science sources (Osmundsen, 2024). The definition of empirical refers to the knowledge that one acquires through experience or account of a witness, rather than theory or estimation (Stewart et al, 2013). For instance, various amounts of individuals who work a 9-5 job claim that there is heavy traffic from seven to eight in the morning can be considered empirical evidence (Stewart et al, 2013).
Speculating the contrast between scientism and the Christian worldview, it could be stated that if enough people claim to experience the same thing referring to God, then it can be labeled empirical. However, there seems to be an issue when attempting to make this connection. According to Moreland (2019), the experiences with God are seemingly more of a feeling (internal), rather than an event occurring or witnessing something (physical). By 3
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observing it from this perspective, it can be stated that it is not sufficient evidence gathered to be regarded as empirical. Conclusion
Overall, radical skepticism and scientism can be aspects prominent in an individual’s life.
An individual stating that knowledge is inconceivable about the world externally is an exemplification of radical skepticism (Stewart et al, 2013). The main implication provided with radical skepticism was being unable to hold any absolute truth to any belief (Stewart et al, 2013).
On the other hand, scientism is the belief that science is the proof and truth of our physical world
(Osmundsen, 2024). An empirical-based example was provided regarding traffic in the morning and multiple accounts of witnesses proving so (Stewart et al, 2013). There were also complications in both concepts with their correlation to the Christian worldview. These complications were noted as the contrary belief systems where knowledge is always obtainable by God and the empirical-based evidence of God’s existence (Osmundsen, 2024).
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References
J.P., M. (2023). The rise of Scientism
. Talbot Magazine - Biola University Blogs. https://www.biola.edu/blogs/talbot-magazine/2019/the-rise-of-scientism Stewart, D., Blocker, H. G., & Petrik, J. (2013).
Fundamentals of philosophy
(8th ed.). Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780205242993
Osmundsen, G. (2024) Grand Canyon University: Spring 2024
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