Scrutinizing Skepticism—Part 1

I am currently taking a MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) on skepticism from a Dutch university. It is a topic that has interested me for a long time, but as yet have not delved into. Although I sometimes have felt attracted to skepticism, I also know that it has often been a controversial issue throughout history, so there's a bit of a stigma attached to it that has caused me to hesitate about exploring it further. I'm also aware that skepticism is a very complex and broad topic, so I realize that I've known too little about it. Hence, when I saw this MOOC, I signed up.

Before going further, let me define skepticism, so it's clear what the topic of this blog is, since skepticism is so broad, as well as being controversial. Some people have even vehemently opposed it. My dictionary defines a skeptic as “a person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions.” As a prime example, many skeptics throughout modern history have questioned the beliefs of Christianity and other religions. As a result, Western skepticism has tussled with Christian dogma for several centuries. Thus, many Christians have viewed skeptics as unwelcome agnostics, if not actively opposing them as being atheists. Digging a little deeper in history, my dictionary defines an ancient skeptic as a “philosopher who denies the possibility of knowledge, or even rational belief, in any given sphere.” That's a pretty radical position!

The dictionary goes on to define being skeptical as “not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.” Traditionally, skepticism is “the philosophy relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.” The root of the word skepticism is the Greek word skeptikos, which is “inquiry” or “doubt.”

Thus, skepticism comes in various degrees—from modest doubt to firm disbelief in even the possibility of knowledge. So if I identify with skepticism, how mild or radical am I going to be? Am I doubtful of certain prevailing beliefs, or do I think that all knowledge is useless?

I have written before on this blog about the usefulness of having some degree of doubt about what we see and hear from the media and from statements made by others. Thus it seems to me that a modicum of doubt can be useful. In contrast, people who are gullible are, according to the dictionary, “easily persuaded to believe something; they are easily fooled and deceived.” In today's environment, there is so much false information coursing through the internet and other media, that one needs some discernment sprinkled with a modest dose of doubt, in order to avoid being gullible and naive.

More on skepticism next time...