Skepticism refers to a philosophical idea based on the doubt that reliable knowledge of the objective world is possible. Throughout history, there were significant changes in the development of philosophy associated with the crisis of democratic society and the increase of dictatorial regimes throughout. As a result, people attempted to reduce scientific problems to practical rules instead of contemplating universal concepts in all areas of knowledge, science, and philosophy. Modern skepticism was impacted by the social upheavals of the 19th century, particularly the Second World War, which resulted in the development of existentialism. During this time, the original idea of skeptical classics was rediscovered and considered revolutionary.
In today’s world, skepticism is based on one’s pre-theoretical and intuitive understanding of epistemological concerns, as well as the need to emphasize the problematic aspect of human existence. For instance, in contemporary society, there is a tendency to question and doubt religious authority. Skepticism addresses people’s beliefs about the existence of God and the past, concluding that they are not rational or justified. Therefore, such ideas cannot constitute knowledge, which means that religious principles are questioned and considered with caution. Modern skepticism doubts the very possibility that such entities as providence or God exist. As can be seen, skepticism has a significant impact on society and people’s approaches to various aspects of life. Skeptics assume that any truth is only proved by another truth through the use of logical means of proof. The idea of doubting the existing claims affects people’s attitudes, resulting in social movements, political changes, and the reduced role of the church. Overall, contemporary skepticism abandons the position of balanced distrust of feelings and thinking; instead, it prefers sensory cognition since it is based on practical experience.