Realism claims that reality exists independently of our minds, whereas scepticism questions whether we can have knowledge of that reality. Realism is primarily a claim about what exists; scepticism is primarily a challenge concerning what we can know.
The Reasoning
In the IB Philosophy subtopic Problems of knowledge, the distinction is between a metaphysical position and an epistemological problem.
A realist argues that objects, properties, or facts exist independently of anyone perceiving or thinking about them. For example, a tree continues to exist when nobody observes it. Our beliefs about the tree can therefore be true or false depending on whether they correspond to this mind-independent reality.
A sceptic asks whether our methods of gaining knowledge, such as sense perception, reason, memory, or testimony, justify such beliefs. Dreams, illusions, hallucinations, and systematic deception suggest that experience might not guarantee access to reality as it actually is.
| Position | Central question | Typical claim |
|---|---|---|
| Realism | What exists? | A mind-independent reality exists. |
| Scepticism | What can we know? | Some or all knowledge claims may lack sufficient justification. |
| Global scepticism | Can anything be known? | Knowledge may be impossible across all domains. |
| Local scepticism | Can this kind of claim be known? | Knowledge may be doubtful only in areas such as ethics or the external world. |
The two positions are not direct logical opposites. Someone may be a realist about the external world while remaining sceptical about whether humans can know it reliably. Conversely, rejecting scepticism does not by itself prove realism, because other positions may explain knowledge differently.
A common misconception is that scepticism means simply disbelieving everything. Philosophical scepticism instead demands examination of whether a claim satisfies conditions such as truth, belief, and justification.
Exam Technique
In an IB response, define both positions, distinguish metaphysics from epistemology, and use a concrete sceptical challenge. For an evaluate question, assess whether realism can answer scepticism rather than merely describing each view.
