Anonymous skeptics

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At its core, philosophical skepticism challenges the meaning of language, presenting itself in various forms, notably logical, external-world, and religious skepticism. Lance Ashdown explores how the philosophy of religion confronts these challenges through the works of Richard Swinburne, John Hick, and William Alston. He argues that these philosophers can be seen as 'anonymous skeptics,' a term echoing Karl Rahner's notion of 'anonymous Christians'—believers who do not recognize their faith. Similarly, the philosophers discussed do not identify as skeptics, yet their epistemologies inadvertently foster conditions that allow for significant skeptical challenges. Despite acknowledging the critiques posed by skepticism, none of these philosophers views these objections as insurmountable threats to their beliefs. Each remains a committed believer in God, fully aware of the challenges posed by religious skepticism. They maintain that such skepticism does not necessitate a rational Christian's abandonment of faith. However, their philosophical frameworks are susceptible to the critiques articulated by Philo in David Hume's essay, which argues that discussions about God may ultimately be devoid of meaning.