scepticisme

Forms

scepticisme m (plural scepticismes)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned derivative, formed from French sceptique + -isme.^[2][3][4][5] The base word was borrowed in 1546 as a term of philosophy from Ancient Greek σκεπτικός (skeptikós, “observing, reflecting”), derived from σκέπτομαι (sképtomai, “to observe, consider”): the sceptics professed to observe without affirming anything.^[6][7] Rey connects the Greek verb with an Indo-European root meaning “to look”, also behind -scope and -scopie.^[7] Picoche places the word among the learned members of the family of σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”), beside épiscopal and microscope.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1669, in Sprat's Histoire de la Société royale de Londres, for the doctrine and opinions of the Greek Pyrrhonian philosophers.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

At first a term of philosophy, the word named the doctrine of the ancient philosophers who suspended their judgement, and specifically from 1715 the doctrine of the Pyrrhonians.^[7] In the 18th century it widened to the refusal to accept anything without critical examination, a sense found in Diderot's Pensées philosophiques (1746).^[2][7] From 1779 it also meant a general turn of mind that is incredulous and distrustful of received values,^[7] and in the 20th century a doubting attitude about whether a plan will succeed or a fact is true (TLFi 1914, Barrès, GLLF 1933, Jules Romains).^[2][4] Its development ran parallel to that of sceptique.^[7]

Timeline

• 1546 – Sceptique is borrowed as a term of philosophy.^[6][7]
• 1669 – Scepticisme appears in Sprat's Histoire de la Société royale de Londres.^[2][4]
• 1715 – It names specifically the doctrine of the Pyrrhonians.^[7]
• 1746 – Diderot uses it for the refusal to admit things without critical examination.^[2][7]
• 1779 – It is used for an incredulous turn of mind that distrusts received values.^[7]
• 1914 – Barrès uses it for doubt about the success of a project or the truth of a fact.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (philosophy) The doctrine of the Greek sceptics and Pyrrhonians, who held that the mind can reach no certain truth and practised the suspension of judgement.^[2][9][5]
2. The refusal to accept a thing without critical examination; doubt.^[9][10]
3. A doubting attitude in matters of religion; unbelief.^[5]
4. Distrust or reserve about a statement, a fact or the outcome of a plan: Le projet a été reçu avec scepticisme.^[2][5]

Related words

• sceptique
• pyrrhonisme
• Ancient Greek σκεπτικός (skeptikós)

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)