skeptical-closure-principle
/ˈskɛp.tɪ.kəl ˈkləʊ.ʒər ˈprɪn.sɪ.pəl/ IELTSAcademic
noun
In philosophy, the skeptical closure principle says that if you know one thing, and you know it leads to another, then you can know the other thing too. It is often discussed in debates about doubt, knowledge, and proof.
- Philosophers debate the skeptical closure principle.
- The principle matters in discussions about knowledge.
- Her paper questions the skeptical closure principle.
Adinary Nuance
This phrase is not a normal everyday expression. It belongs to academic philosophy, and it is much more specific than words like "doubt" or "certainty". Writers use it when discussing a technical argument about whether knowledge follows through implication.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nguyên lý đóng kín hoài nghi
- Spanish
- principio de cierre escéptico
- Chinese
- 怀疑闭合原则
- Japanese
- 懐疑的閉包原理
- Korean
- 회의적 폐쇄 원리
Etymology
This term is a modern philosophical phrase built from English words. It uses skeptical, closure, and principle, and became common in late 20th-century philosophy.
Common phrases
skeptical closure principleaccept the closure principlereject the closure principle
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is skeptical-closure-principle common in everyday English?
- No. It is a technical term used in philosophy and academic writing.
- What is the difference between skeptical closure principle and skepticism?
- Skepticism is a general attitude of doubt. The skeptical closure principle is a specific philosophical idea.
- Can I use this phrase in IELTS writing?
- Only if your topic is philosophy or knowledge. It is too technical for most IELTS answers.