WhatisSkepticism?

SimpleAnswerstoSomeCommonQuestions

adapted from:

TheMediaGuidetoSkepticism
Purpose:Toprovideaclear,easytoreadguideabouttheSkepticalviewpointas subscribedtobymanywhomightcallthemselvesSkepticsorcriticalthinkers;to distinguishpracticalSkepticismfromthepopularuseofthephraseImskeptical, andfromthosewhoclaimtobeskepticsregardingsomewellestablishedconclusion (suchasclimatechange).

Whatisskepticism?

Skepticismisanapproachtoevaluatingclaimsthatemphasizesevidenceand appliesthetoolsofscience.Skepticismismostoftenappliedtoextraordinary claimsthosethatrefutethecurrentconsensusview. TheSkepticalprocessconsidersevidenceobtainedbysystematicobservationsand reason. TheconclusionthatisreachedattheendofthisSkepticalprocessisprovisional becauseadditionalorbetterevidencemaycomealongthatpointstowardsa moresuitableexplanation. Example:Mr.Xtellsusthatanewpillgreatlyimproveshismemory.Thisclaim,if true,isimportantandextraordinary.So,itwouldbefittingtoapplySkepticismto thisclaim.Wewouldwanttoseeevidencethathismemoryisimprovedandthatthe pillwasresponsibleforthat.Weconsideralternativeexplanationsthatcouldexplain whyMr.Xwouldsaythenewpillimproveshismemory:hemaybemistaken,he mightbegoingthroughalessstressfultimeoflife,hewantstofeellikehespenthis moneywiselyonthepills,hewaspaidtopromotethepills,etc.Goodevidencethat hisclaimhasvaliditywouldbequalityresearchresults(multiplestudies)thatshow manywhotakethepilldisplayedameasurableimprovementinmemory.And, preferably,wewouldbeprovidedaplausibleexplanationforhowthepillworksto improvememory.IfthemanufacturerofMrXspillsdonothavewellcontrolled studiesoflargegroupsofpeoplethatshowthattheproductactuallyworks,wecant justaccepthiswordthattheyworkastheysaybecausethealternativeexplanations aremorelikely. Themoreextraordinarytheclaim,thestrongertheevidencemustbetosupportit.If aclaimismadethatwouldrequireustoreviseoroverturnwellestablished knowledge,weshouldbeverysuspiciousandaskforagreaterdegreeofevidence. Example:Psychicsclaimthattheyareabletopredictfutureevents.Thatwouldnot beinaccordancewithwhatwehaveobservedaboutthehumanmind.Itwouldnot correspondtowelltestedideasinbiologyandphysics.Itdoesnotmakesensein termsofwhatweknow.So,inordertojustifydiscardingallwealreadyknow,the claimantmusthaveagreatdealofsolidevidencethatwithstandsscrutiny. Thesearecasesofapplyingscientificskepticism.Skepticsvaluecontributionsof sciencebutalsothoseoflogicandmaththatleadtowardsthebestexplanation. Skepticismcanbeappliedtosubjectssuchashistory,artandliterature,aswell,by usingcriticalthinkingandrespectfortheevidenceforanyclaimsthataremade.

WhatdoesitmeantobeaSkeptic?
YouwilloftenhearImaskepticorImskeptical frompeoplewhoarenotsureaboutorwhodoubt someconcept.Thatisacommon,casualuseofthe term.Simplycallingoneselfaskepticisnotthe sameaspracticingit.Itseasytodoubtthings; everyoneisskepticalaboutsomething.Good Skepticisminvolvesunderstandingwhyonemightor mightnotdoubttheclaim. ASkepticsubscribestoanumberoftenets: Respectfortheevidence.Theapplicationofreason toevidenceisthebestmethodwehavetoobtain reliableknowledge. Respectformethods,conclusionsandthe consensusofscience.Scienceisaparticularwayof obtaininginformationthatisdesignedtoreducethechancesofcomingtoan incorrectconclusion.Usingascientificprocesswillminimizeerrors(butnot eliminatethementirely).So,Skepticsareoftenvigorousadvocatesofsciencein medicine,inschools,andforinformingpolicydecisions.Fake,junkand pseudoscienceiscalledoutasaruse.Logicandmatharealsocomponentsof sciencethatcanbevaluableinassessingclaims. Preferencefornatural,notsupernatural,explanation.Naturallawsgiveus rationalboundariesinourquesttodetermineexplanations.Miraclesareanexample ofusingasupernaturalagent(agod,saintorangelwhooperatesoutsideofnatural laws)aspartoftheexplanation.ASkepticwilllookforanaturalexplanationthat doesnotcallforasupernatural,unproven(andpossiblyunprovable)entitytobe included. Promotionofreasonandcriticalthinking.ManySkepticsaregoodatidentifying mistakesinargumentsandreasoning. Awarenessofhowwearefooled.Peopleroutinelyfoolthemselvesandarefooled byothers.Thisismostcommonlyseeninouroverrelianceonoursensesand memoryforexample,IknowwhatIsaw,orIrememberitlikeitwasyesterday. Skepticsarewaryofeyewitnesstestimonybecauseobservationisfallibleand memoryismalleable.Storiesofevents,evenfromtrustworthypeople,makeforvery poorevidenceontheirown.Evencollectively,anecdotesdonttellusmuchaboutthe validityoftheclaim.Skepticsalsounderstandthatpeopletendtolookfor, rememberandfavortheevidencethatsupportstheirpreferredconclusion.

WhatSkepticismISNT
Thissectioncontainspossiblythemostimportant thingstoknowaboutSkeptics.Thereareamany misconceptionsaboutwhatitmeanstobeaSkeptic. Noteveryonewhosaystheyareskepticalare applyingSkepticism. Skepticisnotthesameascynicor disbeliever.GoodSkepticsdonotdismissclaims outofhand.TheSkepticisoftenseenasthe debunker,thedowner,ortheballoonbuster.It mayappearthatwayforthosewhoareveryattached tocertainconceptstowhichSkepticismisbeing applied,suchasexistenceofghosts,BigfootorUFOs. Skepticsarentskepticalofeverything,either.InclassicalGreekSkepticism,the individualdidnotcommittostatingknowledge;everythingwasdoubted,therewas nocertainty.Thatisnotapopularstancetoday.Whenwespeakofmodern Skepticism,wearetalkingaboutthosewhoseektheconclusionbestsupportedby currentevidenceandreason. Skepticdoesnotequalatheist.ManySkepticsareatheists,butnotall. Skepticismisaprocessofevaluatingclaims,notasetofconclusions.Skepticsarea diversegroupsolackofreligiousbeliefsshouldnotbeassumed.Scientific Skepticismisappliedonlytotestableclaims(suchasprayerheals),notto untestableclaimssuchastheexistenceofGod,whoissupernatural.Istherea God?isaquestionoutsidetherealmofscience.However,philosophicalskepticism canbeinvokedinconsideringclaimsaboutthesupernatural. Skepticdoesnotmeandenialistortruther. ApracticingSkepticisinformed bythescientificconsensus.Socalledclimateskepticsarenotpracticing Skepticismwhentheydoubtglobalwarmingbasedonselectivebeliefandby ignoringtheresultsthatsciencehasgivenustothispoint.Denialists(ofclimate change,evolution,conventionalmedicine,etc.)rejectsciencethatdoesnotsupport theirview.Truthersinsistthattherealtruthhasnotbeenrevealedandinstead putforththeexplanationthataconspiracyisafoot.Thesestancesdonotgivefair weighttowellestablishedknowledgewehave. Skepticismisnotareligion.Skepticismdoesnttellyouwhattothink.Ittellsyou howyoushouldthinkaboutsomethingtogettotheconclusionthathasthebest possibilityofbeingtrue.Skepticismmaynotalwaysbethebestapproachto decisionsatthemoment,sometimesdecisionsbasedonemotionscanfeellikethe rightthingtodo.Soapplyingskepticismtoeverythinginlifeisnotalwaysthebest policy.Theremaybeotherfactorstoconsider.

Skepticismisimportant
WhyuseSkepticismasaprocesstoevaluateclaims? Criticallyevaluatingclaimsforflaws,mistakes andinaccuracieslessensthepotentialthatyou willbelievesomethingthatisnttrue.Skepticism andcriticalthinkingcanbeappliedineverydaylife whereaninvalidclaimmighthaveseriouseffectson youorpeoplearoundyousuchasinconsideration ofamedicaltreatment,afinancialinvestment,a consumerproduct,orlifechoices. Proponentsofaclaimwillfrequentlysay,Youcant proveitsnottrue.Thatsaridiculousstatement.Its notuptotheSkeptictoshowthatanextraordinary claimisnttrue.Itsuptothosemakingtheclaimtoprovideevidenceand reasonswhyitIStrue.WemusthaveevidencethatapersonDIDcommitacrime, forexample,notprovethateveryoneelseintheworlddidnot.

WhatdoSkepticsdo?
Skepticshavealoosecommunityconsistingofpublications,websitesandonline forums,organizations,andevents.Skepticsareallaroundtheworld,organizedinto casualandformalgroupsandassociations.Itisacommunitymadeupofpeople withvaryingbackgrounds,ideas,goals,communicationstylesandskillsets.Italso getsveryfluidattheedges.YoumightbeaSkepticandnotevenknowit.Many peopledontselfidentifyasaskepticbutselectivelyfollowthepracticesof Skepticismintheirlives.Somepeoplearedisinclinedtotakeonanylabelsorjoina group. ManySkepticsenjoythefringesubjectareas,theylikesolvingmysteriesand appreciatebeingaroundpeoplewhothinkastheydoorwhoarguerationallywhen theydontagree.SomeSkepticsareactivistswhopromotecriticalthinkingand Skepticismintheircommunitiesandthepublicasindividualsoraspartoflocalor nationalorganizedgroupsandonline. SomeofthetopicsSkepticsareinvolvedinarescienceeducation,alternative medicaltreatments,theparanormal,dubiousconsumerproductsandservices, hoaxesandscams,UFOsandaliens,monstersandfolklore,superstition,andwhy peoplebelievestrangethings. ThosewhorepresentSkepticisminthepublicspherearehappytoprovideascience andreasonbasedviewpointforthemedia.Thebackgroundsofthethoseinthe Skepticalcommunityarevaried.Manyparticipantsintheskepticalcommunityare expertsinparticularareasliketheparanormal,medicine,cryptozoology,history, archeology,textualanalysis,linguistics,psychology,astronomy,physicsandmagic.

SkepticalResources
Herearethebestmeanstoconnecttothepeopleand ideasofscientificskepticism. Sites(skepticsonthe.net/mediatype/blog) Podcasts(skepticsonthe.net/mediatype/podcasts) OnlineResources (skepticsonthe.net/mediatype/resources) SkepticalPeople (skepticsonthe.net/mediatype/people) Organizations ThemajorSkepticorganizationshaveastheirmissionagoaltopromotescientific skepticism.TherearethreemajornationalskepticalorganizationsintheUnited States. CommitteeforSkepticalInquiry(CSI)(www.csicop.org) CSI(formerlyknownasCSICOP)isanonprofitscientificandeducational organization,startedin1976.Theirmissionistopromotescientificinquiry,critical investigation,andtheuseofreasoninexaminingcontroversialandextraordinary claims.TheypublishtheSkepticalInquirerandSkepticalBriefs.Theyhostan annualconferencecalledCSIconandmanylocalevents,workshopsandlecturesin conjunctionwiththeiroverarchingorganization,theCenterforInquiry.Contact: info(at)csisop.org JamesRandiEducationalFoundation(JREF)(www.randi.org) FoundedbymagicianJamesTheAmazingRandiin1996,thefoundationis dedicatedtopromotingcriticalthinkingbyreachingouttothepublicandmedia withreliableinformationaboutparanormalandsupernaturalideassowidespread inoursocietytoday.Theyorganizeoneofthelargestgatheringsofinternational skepticsandcriticalthinkers,TheAmazingMeeting(TAM),everyyearandofferthe OneMillionDollarChallengeforthosewhoclaimparanormalabilities.Contact:+1 (213)2933092 TheSkepticsSociety(skeptic.com) PublisherofSkepticmagazine,theSkepticsSocietyisanonprofit,scientificand educationalorganizationledbyDr.MichaelShermer.Theirmissionistoengage leadingexpertsininvestigatingtheparanormal,fringescience,pseudoscience,and extraordinaryclaimsofallkinds,promotecriticalthinking,andserveasan educationaltoolforthoseseekingasoundscientificviewpoint.Theysponsora monthlylectureseriesattheCaliforniaInstituteofTechnology.Contact: skepticssociety@skeptic.com

Publications
SkepticMagazine(www.skeptic.com/magazine) SkepticalInquirer(www.csicop.org/si) SkepticalBriefs(www.csicop.org/sb) TheSkeptic(U.K.)(www.skeptic.org.uk) TheSkeptic(Aust)(www.skeptics.com.au/publications/magazine)

FamousSkeptics
HarryHoudini(18741926)Magician,psychicdebunker. MartinGardner(19142010)Popularmathandsciencewriter. IsaacAsimov(19201992)Biochemist,professor,sciencefictionandscience author. PaulKurtz(19252012)Philosopher,professor,author,organizational founder. JamesRandi(1928)Magician,investigator,author,organizationalfounder. CarlSagan(19341996)Astronomer,astrophysicist,author. RichardDawkins(1941)Evolutionarybiologist,professor,author. StephenJayGould(19412002)Paleontologist,evolutionarybiologist, sciencehistorian,author. ElizabethLoftus(1944)Cognitivepsychologist,worldrenownedexperton humanmemory. JoeNickell(1944)Paranormalinvestigator,author. CarolTavris(1944)Socialpsychologist,author. EugenieScott(1945)Physicalanthropologist,DirectorofNationalCenter forScienceEducation. LawrenceKrauss(1954)Theoreticalphysicist,cosmologist,professor, author. MichaelShermer(1954)Sciencewriter,organizationalfounder,editorof Skepticmagazine. StevenNovella(1964)Clinicalneurologist,writer,editor. BrianDunning(1965)Sciencewriter,videoandpodcastproducer. RichardSaunders(1965)Scienceeducator,videoandpodcastproducer. RichardWiseman(1966)Psychologist,popularscienceauthor,paranormal investigator. ChristopherFrench(?)Professor,anomalouspsychologyresearcher, editorinchiefofTheSkeptic(U.K.). BenjaminRadford(1970)Paranormalinvestigator,author,deputyeditorof SkepticalInquirer. DerrenBrown(1971)Illusionist,mentalist,TVpersonality. TimMinchin(1975)Comedian,actor,musician.

References
Dunning,Brian.WhatisSkepticism?(skeptoid.com/skeptic.php). Shermer,Michael.2013.WhatIsSkepticism,Anyway? (www.huffingtonpost.com/michaelshermer/whatisskepticismanyway_b_2581917. html) Loxton,Daniel.2013.WhyIsThereaSkepticalMovement? (www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/130206/#feature) Novella,Steven.2013.BigfootSkeptics,NewAtheists,PoliticsandReligion. (theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/bigfootskepticsnewatheistspoliticsand religion) Kurtz,Paul.1992.TheNewSkepticism.PrometheusBooks,

Acknowledgements

EricWeissfromSkepticsonthe.net,DavidBloomberg,KylieSturgess,Torkeldegrd, BarbaraDrescher,RobertBlaskiewicz,MassimoPigliucci,ChrisFrench,Adriana Heguy,DanielLoxton,EveSiebert,EddieScott,DanielLoxton,HowardLewis,Iain Martel,TiffanyTaylor,TerryOConnor,StephanNaro,PaulWilkins,Richard Saunders.

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