The limits of doubt : the moral and political implications of skepticism / Petr Lom.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lom, Petr, 1968-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Skepticism--Moral and ethical aspects.

Skepticism.

Skepticism--Political aspects.

Physical Description:

xiv, 138 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, [2001]

Contents:

1 Skepticism and the Politics of Domination 11

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

2 Ancient Skepticism: Happiness Above Truth 31

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

3 Hobbes and the Peace of Dogmatic Skepticism 47

The Extent of Hobbes's Skepticism 47

The Political Necessity of Moral Doubt 53

The Relativization of Truth 55

The Hobbesian Citizen 57

4 Denis Diderot and Doubt: Constructive Skepticism 59

Ancient versus Modern Skepticism 60

Skepticism and Eclecticism 62

Rameau's Nephew 65

The Limits of Doubt 68

Diderot's Political Thought 71

5 Skepticism, Cruelty, Custom, and Toleration: Michel de Montaigne 75

Skepticism and Cruelty 76

Skepticism and Custom 80

Montaigne and Custom 81

Skepticism and Toleration 87

From Skepticism to Humanism 89.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 119-133) and index.

ISBN:

0791450309

0791450295

OCLC:

44802947