Editing Probabilism (section)

==Philosophy==
=== Ancient ===
{{see also|Academic skepticism|Carneades}}
In [[ancient Greek philosophy]], probabilism referred to the doctrine which gives assistance in ordinary matters to one who is skeptical in respect of the possibility of real knowledge: it supposes that though [[acatalepsy|knowledge is impossible]], a man may rely on strong beliefs in practical affairs. This view was held by the [[Philosophical skepticism|skeptics]] of the [[New Academy]]. Academic skeptics accept probabilism, while [[Pyrrhonism|Pyrrhonian skeptics]] do not.<ref>[[Sextus Empiricus]], ''Outlines of Pyrrhonism'' Book I, Chapter 33, Section 231 "...we differ from the New Academy; for whereas the men who profess to conform to its doctrine use probability as the guide of life, we live in an undogmatic way...."</ref>

=== Modern ===
In modern usage, a probabilist is someone who believes that central epistemological issues are best approached using probabilities.{{Clarify|date=May 2011}}  This thesis is neutral with respect to whether knowledge entails certainty or whether skepticism about knowledge is true.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

Probabilist doctrines continue to be debated in the context of [[artificial general intelligence]], as a counterpoint to the use of [[non-monotonic logic]], as the proper form for [[knowledge representation]] remains unclear.