Literary notes about scepticism (AI summary)
Literary works employ the term scepticism in a remarkable variety of ways, ranging from a rigorous philosophical tool to an expression of emotional or moral doubt. In some texts, scepticism is used to denote a systematic questioning of metaphysical claims and the limits of human understanding, as seen in discussions by Kant and Hume ([1], [2], [3], [4]). At the same time, other writings imbue the term with a more personal or even liberating sense—portraying it as a response to cold detachment, societal dogmatism, or the instinct to suspend belief until sufficient evidence is provided ([5], [6], [7]). Additionally, several authors depict scepticism as a dynamic interplay with knowledge itself, highlighting its role in both dismantling established doctrines and paving the way for new insights ([8], [9], [10]). This multifaceted usage underscores the enduring literary fascination with doubt as both a critical and creative force.
- Scepticism originally arose from metaphysics and its licentious dialectics.
— from Kant's Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics by Immanuel Kant - experience, 28 ; weakness of, 126 (v. Reason , Scepticism ).
— from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume - Scepticism concerning, 117 (v. Scepticism , B).
— from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume - In all the incidents of life we ought still to preserve our scepticism.
— from A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume - I was so hurt by her coldness and scepticism, that the tears rose to my eyes.
— from Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë - The attitude we prefer in them is one of benevolent scepticism.
— from A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud - If a man have a strong faith he can indulge in the luxury of scepticism; he is strong enough, firm enough, well-knit enough for such a luxury.
— from The Twilight of the Idols; or, How to Philosophize with the Hammer. The Antichrist by Nietzsche - 8 Goethe was probably the first European man to carry out this scepticism to its full results.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway - INTRODUCTION Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism.
— from The Odyssey by Homer - From this it follows that "all freedom of spirit," i.e. instinctive scepticism, is the prerequisite of greatness.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Nietzsche