What is a skeptic? Here is Dr. Steven Novella’s summary:
“A skeptic is one who prefers beliefs and conclusions that are reliable and valid to ones that are comforting or convenient, and therefore rigorously and openly applies the methods of #science and #reason to all empirical claims, especially their own. A skeptic provisionally proportions acceptance of any claim to valid #logic and a fair and thorough assessment of available #evidence, and studies the pitfalls of human reason and the mechanisms of deception so as to avoid being deceived by others or themselves. Skepticism values method over any particular conclusion.”
#empiricism #criticalthinking #askforevidence #secularism #philosophy #ethics #freethinkers #brights #atheist #agnostic #humanism #freethinkers #rationality #reasoning
@hantsskep The religious wing of my family are skeptical of reality more often (ex: vaccines). They also tell me atheism is a religion. I regularly fret their hegemony can easily redefine definitions we use however suits them.