scepsis

See also: Scepsis

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σκέψις (sképsis, “examination, observation, consideration”). See skeptic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɛpsɪs/

Noun

scepsis (uncountable)

1. (chiefly philosophy, uncommon) Skepticism; a skeptical approach or belief.
   • 1862 October 13, James Martineau, The Transient and the Permanent in Theology: An Address at the Opening of the Session of Manchester New College […]‎^[1], published 1862, page 4:

     Among their products were the system of Locke, the scepsis of Hume, the critical philosophy of Kant.

   • 1875, Albert Schwegler, translated by James Hutchison Stirling, Handbook of the History of Philosophy, page 279:

     On the one side it is seen that the sole basis of philosophy is experience, and on the other that scepsis has shaken the credibility of experience.

   • 1973, Praxis‎^[2], volume 9/10, page 91:

     Permanent scepsis is, after all, the condition sine qua non of not only philosophy but also of all true social action.

   • 2008, Michiel de Vaan, Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, →ISBN, page 432:

     The connection with opīnor ‘to suspect’ is difficult for semantic reasons; EM regard it with scepsis.

References

• “scepsis”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.