CHALLENGE OF SKEPTICISM

The Challenge of Skepticism

The Challenge of Skepticism

Introduction

The word skeptic carries a number of different connotations today, depending on the social context in which it is used. Typically, it is understood to describe a person who adopts a position opposing a claim accepted by the perceived majority, such as “climate change skeptic.” A number of individuals and organizations exist that describe themselves as skeptics with respect to one or more beliefs.

During the 19th century, spiritualist movements increased in popularity across Europe and northern America, where mediums would hold séances and claim to contact the dead or otherwise demonstrate their extrasensory abilities in front of large paying audiences. Tricks commonly employed by magicians were instead used to fool people into believing they were witnessing paranormal events. In turn, a number of magicians took offence at such chicanery and either spoke out about their dishonesty of these self-proclaimed mediums or personally debunked some of the popular acts. As such, debunking has become strongly associated with skepticism. However, while many might feel it is necessary to reveal false claims, it is far from a defining feature celebrated by all who call themselves skeptics.

Today, skepticism has come to represent the necessity for presenting scientific evidence with respect to any belief system. This is most pronounced in the active demand for scientific evidence, in support of paranormal, and so-called pseudoscientific claims, or claims that appear to be scientific in nature yet lack critical supporting evidence. Organizations such as the Centre for Inquiry, The Skeptics Society, and the James Randi Educational Foundation promote a public awareness of the absence of convincing scientific evidence in favor of many claims and a need for good science literacy among the public (Descartes, 2005).

While skepticism is often used interchangeably with the term critical thinking, the latter represents more the cognitive ...