1.
[syn: agnosticism, skepticism, scepticism]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sceptic \Scep"tic\, Sceptical \Scep"tic*al\, Scepticism
\Scep"ti*cism\, etc.
See Skeptic, Skeptical, Skepticism, etc.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Skepticism \Skep"ti*cism\, n. [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written
also scepticism.]
1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty.
[1913 Webster]
That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and
confusion, which is the result of skepticism.
--Hune.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Metaph.) The doctrine that no fact or principle can be
certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is
uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that
no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be
established on philosophical grounds; critical
investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive
assumption or assertion of certain principles.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Theol.) A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a
denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or
of the being, perfections, or truth of God.
[1913 Webster]
Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt
whether this blessed prospect will be realized. --S.
Miller.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
scepticism
n 1: the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge [syn:
agnosticism, skepticism, scepticism]