Epistemology: 2. The Problem of Skepticism

Is knowledge humanly possible? In this video, Jennifer Nagel (University of Toronto) looks at skeptical arguments, starting with Ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy, and moving forward into contemporary brain-in-a-vat scenarios. We’ll review a variety of reasons to worry that knowledge might be impossible, and we’ll examine the difference between global and local forms of skepticism.

Professor of Philosophy at University of Toronto

My research focuses on knowledge, belief, and our capacities to track these states in ourselves and others. I’m interested in the history of epistemology, both in the Western tradition back to Plato, and in the Classical Indian and Tibetan traditions.  I also work in contemporary philosophy of mind, with special interests in metacognition and mental state attribution.

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