Skepticism – what is it and who are skeptics. Definition & meaning.

Skepticism is a term that characterizes the philosophical movement, the idea of ​​which is doubts about the reliability of the information received.

What is SKEPTICISM – definition and meaning in simple words.

In simple words, Skepticism is a philosophy or a life position of a person, which consists in distrusting the knowledge or statements received. In other words, we can say that skepticism is the habit of “not trusting everything” if there is no indisputable evidence and facts about it. People who follow this method of perceiving information are called skeptics.

Types, forms, and principles of skepticism.

Currently, three main trends in the course of skepticism can be clearly distinguished, which are based on one main principle:

If there is no reliable evidence for something, then it cannot be a fact.

This means that any information should not be believed until it is confirmed or refuted.

Three main types of skepticism:

• Scientific skepticism;
• Philosophical skepticism;
• Religious skepticism.

What is SCIENTIFIC SKEPTICISM?

This form of skepticism is based on doubts about various scientific or pseudo-scientific claims. For example, scientific skeptics question the following things:

• The effectiveness of homeopathy and non-traditional methods of treatment;
• The existence of telekinesis, telepathy and so on;
• The existence of various supernatural entities (ghosts, spirits, angels, deities, etc.);
• The usefulness of such pseudo-sciences as cryptozoology and ufology;
• Statements of popular psychology;
• The reality of pseudo-scientific myths, and much more.

The main task of scientific skepticism is to prove or debunk information that is presented under the guise of real science.

What is PHILOSOPHICAL SKEPTICISM?

Philosophical skepticism has a more abstract meaning than scientific skepticism. Philosophical skeptics refrain from making any clear statements about absolute truth. They believe that anyone can make mistakes. Sometimes, this type of skepticism is called Pyrrhonism, since the ancient Greek philosopher Pyrrho of Elis is considered to be its founder.

In simple terms, the essence of the concept of philosophical skepticism can be described as:

Doubt that reliable and true knowledge exists at all.

What is RELIGIOUS SKEPTICISM?

Regarding religious skepticism, then everything is quite simple. Religious skeptics are people who doubt certain religious statements or dogmas. So, for example, they may question the reality of the existence of certain miracles, or the reliability of the “facts” described in the sacred texts. It is worth noting that religious skeptics are not always atheists. A person can be quite religious, but at the same time disagree with some statements from the concept of his faith.