A skeptic is a person who does not trust rumors, disseminated information, dubious ideas that he himself has not verified for veracity. The meaning of the word skeptic comes from the Greek "skeptikos". Greek skeptics represented a philosophical school in which they raised doubts about the real possibilities of thinking and doubts about the reliability of truth. Ancient philosophers of skepticism were able to find the weak side in the theories of knowledge and logic of various philosophical schools, as well as find the weak points of these teachings and criticize them.
What does a skeptic mean in the current understanding? The meaning of the word skeptic in its modern interpretation speaks of a person who constantly doubts the reliability of everything around him, so his attitude is permeated with mistrust.
A skeptic is a person who will never say that he knows exactly the right answer to anything. He never rejects or immediately takes anything for granted. He first examines the issue that has arisen, checks incoming information, looks for arguments, and only after analyzing all this does he express his own judgment and conclusions.
Naturally, it is impossible for one person to fully study all the information, to comprehend all the circumstances and aspects, but he does not need this. A stock of knowledge is required just enough to allow one to come to a common preliminary opinion. As long as the judgment is consistent with the facts, it will remain valid. But with the arrival of new arguments and additional information, the judgment may change.
It is quite difficult to influence the opinion of a skeptical person. He constantly explores new beliefs and not-so-new principles that he has, reflects, rechecks and evaluates for correctness. Thus, he conducts an “audit” of his own life attitudes.
A person who is characterized by healthy skepticism can correctly and without emotion evaluate almost any phenomenon. Evaluate current events, actions done in the past, relationships, and various theories.
A skeptic always uses a balanced approach in his actions and does not give in to emerging emotions, so he is able to control his life.
Who is a skeptic?
A skeptic is a type of personality who tends to question both other people's conclusions and his own, is able to see weakness in any argument and strives to check and confirm every detail in the picture of the world. It is difficult to influence a skeptic's opinion with unsubstantiated claims without indisputable evidence.
The thought process in the skeptic's head does not stop. He constantly thinks about things that he considers important, argues and argues with himself, revising his life attitudes. He also regularly rethinks his own actions and mistakes of the past. Perhaps this is precisely what explains Honoré de Balzac’s famous statement “Skeptics are the most conscientious people.”
Interestingly, skeptics themselves are not inclined to claim that they have accurate or sufficiently complete information. They carefully check everything, look for arguments and evidence, and only after a detailed investigation conducted by themselves do they express their own opinion. Of course, it is difficult for one person to study all the necessary information. The skeptic understands this, so he sees no problem in changing his point of view after receiving new significant facts.
Everyday skepticism
Regarding skepticism in everyday life, a purely philosophical approach can be considered basic, which recommends doubting the reliability of knowledge. Even what was recognized by authoritative scientific circles! However, we are not talking about complete denial or unwillingness to recognize the achievements of scientists.
On the contrary, the concept allows one to conduct unique research and achieve new results in areas that were once thought to be “fully studied.” This is a very valuable property of skepticism - the ability for introspection and self-improvement, which helps to avoid stagnation.
Unfortunately, at the philistine level, skepticism often turns into smug disbelief . The person takes the position of an unbeliever and refuses to accept any arguments, calling his behavior “an expansion of cognitive experience.” But doesn’t doubting the truth of any judgment contradict itself?
How did the term come about?
Skepticism originally appeared as a doctrine in ancient Greek philosophy. One of its creators was Xenophanes; significant contributions to the doctrine were made by Pyrrho, Aenesidemus, Agrippa, Arcesilaus and Sextus Empiricus. Philosophical skepticism implies doubt about the possibility of reliable knowledge. The followers of this teaching adhered to the idea that it was necessary to be guided by “reasonable probability” rather than strive to find the truth. In any situation, you should rely on common sense, which is formed in everyday life.
During the Renaissance, new interest in ancient Greek philosophies arose, and philosophers again became interested in ancient skepticism. This was a period when knowledge increased at an unprecedented rate. Therefore, a skeptical attitude was necessary to confirm knowledge and a balanced approach to its interpretation and systematization.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a scientific and technological revolution began, and this contributed to a new increase in interest in philosophical skepticism. If earlier this trend was used mainly in philosophy, now it has spread to all scientific research , since there is an urgent need for reliable knowledge.
The 1970s saw the emergence of scientific skepticism, necessitated by increased interest in the paranormal. Around the same time, the understanding of who a skeptic is took on a modern form. This word began to be used not only for supporters of philosophical skepticism, but also for all people who believe that any information must be verified and confirmed in order to be considered reliable.
In 1992, the international Society of Skeptics was formed, dedicated to refuting various anti-scientific and pseudoscientific theories. They publish their own magazine, Skeptic, hold conferences, and are active on the Internet. Their main task is to expose astrologers, ufologists, homeopaths and other supporters of unconventional trends in science.
Skepticism in philosophy
Skepticism appeared in philosophy around the 5th century BC. However, it is believed that its creator was the ancient Greek philosopher Pyrrho of Aelis (c. 360 - c. 270 BC).
Since ancient times, skeptical philosophy has shaped arguments against the dogmatic claims of philosophers, scientists, and others. Thus, during the development of ancient philosophy and science, doubts arose about the truth of the basic worldviews of that period.
Skepticism is considered one of the most important philosophical schools of the Hellenistic period. Epicureanism and Stoicism were also very important.
Representatives of skepticism
Famous skeptical philosophers include names such as:
- Pyrrho of Aelis;
- Timon from Phliuntu;
- Rene Descartes;
- Marcus Tullius Cicero;
- Aenesidemus;
- Carneades;
- Sextus Empiricus;
- Arcesilaus.
Skepticism and agnosticism
The connection between skepticism and agnosticism is that agnosticism is similar to skepticism about anything related to religion.
Agnosticism is a worldview in which knowledge of the existence or non-existence of God(s) is impossible; it can be seen as a cross between theism and atheism.
Agnosticism advocates a worldview in which our knowledge is limited to the physical world and is incapable of knowing anything beyond the supernatural.
Hume's skepticism
Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711 - 1776) left his mark on the history of philosophy with his rather bold, skeptical approach to many philosophical topics. In epistemology, for example, he challenged accepted worldviews about personhood. According to Hume, there is no permanent self that does not change over time.
David Hume did not accept traditional explanations of causation; he argued that our ideas about causation are based not on the simple perception of causal forces in the external world, but on our standards of thinking.
Montaigne's skepticism
In the 16th century, the French writer and philosopher Michel de Montaigne (1533 - 1592) contributed to the revival of skepticism. He greatly influenced such important figures in philosophy as René Descartes and Blaise Pascal.
In his writings on human knowledge, Montaigne notes that “in different ways a person achieves the same goal:
- the same human behavior can lead to opposite results;
- Opposite patterns of behavior can lead to the same result.
He also believed that a person is always guided by selfishness in his actions and thoughts. Montaigne already argued that the main goals of every person’s existence are to achieve harmony and happiness.
Questions of skepticism in philosophy are raised quite often
How to recognize a skeptic?
People with a skeptical mindset are not particularly emotional. They specifically suppress emotions so that they do not interfere with the sound analysis of information. A skeptic usually has a calm and serious expression on his face. He smiles quite rarely, because he tends to think more carefully about what he hears and sees. In communication, a skeptic can be quite harsh. He is not afraid to offend his interlocutor, because he believes that honesty and directness are more important than emotions. By personality type, a skeptic is, in most cases, phlegmatic or melancholic.
Some researchers argue that people with skeptical thinking have characteristic appearance features: they are thin, their faces have pointed features. These signs should not be taken seriously, but they can be taken into account.
Sometimes a skeptic is credited with traits characteristic of a pessimist. This is an erroneous judgment because a pessimist distrusts good news and readily believes bad news. A skeptic tends to doubt any information coming from outside. His goal is to determine the truth, while a pessimist simply looks for the negative in everything.
Skeptics usually deny religious beliefs because no one can provide them with rational arguments to support the dogmas proposed by the religion. They also deny all supernatural and otherworldly phenomena that cannot be proven with material evidence.
There is also the concept of “religious skepticism.” It implies doubt in individual statements, but does not deny religion as a whole.
A skeptic accepts only those arguments whose authenticity he has no doubt about. He is able to accept the fact of the existence of aliens or other supernatural creatures and phenomena, but only after he receives comprehensive evidence. He also never relies on his own intuition and carefully weighs all arguments when making decisions. This leads to some slowness even in emergency situations.
Pathological condition
Excessive skepticism can lead to pathological conditions
Such an individual often suffers from the fact that he constantly doubts and is in search of arguments. Over time, the conflict with those close to you may escalate. A strong manifestation of skepticism leads to isolation, excessive suspicion, complaints, and the formation of a schizoid personality.
A deep manifestation of skepticism can completely absorb an individual. Any reason to believe in something disappears; a person does not even admit the possibility of the existence of any truth. Morality, law, ethical standards no longer fulfill their role, they cease to be a limiter.
In real life, a person’s complete submission to skepticism is a rather rare mental phenomenon. As a rule, people have a healthy skepticism regarding unverified information.
Pros of being a skeptic
The critical thinking of a skeptic gives him certain advantages. It is almost impossible to manipulate him, it is impossible to impose wrong views on him. Skeptics almost never become victims of scammers ; they do not trust advertising and quickly uncover poorly disguised scams and deceptions. They are constantly in search of the truth and are ready to spend a lot of effort to find it. These qualities often help them succeed in life.
A skeptic thinks logically, trying to subordinate every action to common sense, so he is not prone to impulsive actions and decisions. He does not strive to “be like everyone else”; the universal desire to conform to fashion trends is alien to him. It is skeptics who usually swim alone against the tide, resist established stereotypes and strive to open the eyes of others. Thanks to the ability to deeply analyze information, skeptics become excellent auditors, inspectors, investigators, lawyers and, of course, scientists.
Notes
- ↑
- ↑
- Skepticism
- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - Sagan K.
Contact. Simon and Schuster, 1985; Republished August 1997 by Doubleday Books, ISBN 1-56865-424-3, 352 pp. - Sagan K., Druyan E.
Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. Ballantine Books, 1998, ISBN 0-345-37918-7, 320 pp. - Kurtz, P.
The New Skepticism: Inquiry and Reliable Knowledge. — Prometheus Books. — 371 p. — ISBN 978-0-87975-766-3. - For example, such as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and GWUP
- Langmuir I.
Pathological science. Physics Today 42 (Oct. 1989): 36-48. / transcribed and ed., Robert N. Hall. - Storms, Edmund.
The science of low energy nuclear reaction: a comprehensive compilation of evidence and explanations about cold fusion. - World Scientific, 2007. - P. 49-50. — ISBN 9789812706201.
Cons of being a skeptic
The most problematic area for skeptics is interpersonal relationships. They are suspicious and distrustful, and do not hesitate to openly express doubts. Their meticulousness often irritates their interlocutors. Having heard a dubious statement, they ask again, “Where did you read that?” Such questions cause a negative reaction because people are not ready to answer them and perceive them as a sign of distrust.
The skeptic himself understands perfectly well that his meticulousness spoils relationships with people, but he cannot do anything about it. He is also aware of his slowness in making important decisions and sometimes envies impulsive people who do not spend time thinking. Skepticism is useful when making long-term plans for the future, but it gets in the way when making urgent decisions.
Ancient followers
When Pyrrho died, his ideological banner was taken up by his contemporary Timon. He was a poet, prose writer and has been preserved in history as the author of “sills” - satirical works. In his sills he ridiculed all philosophical movements except Pyrrhonism, the teachings of Protagoras and Democritus. Timon widely propagated Pyrrho's postulates, calling on everyone to reconsider their values and achieve bliss. After the death of the writer, the school of skepticism stopped in its development.
A joke is told about Pyrrho. One day, the ship on which the scientist was traveling was caught in a storm. People began to panic, and only the ship's pig remained calm, continuing to serenely slurp from the trough. “This is how a true philosopher should behave,” said Pyrrho, pointing to the pig
How to communicate with a skeptic?
If you understand well who a skeptic is, establishing communication with him is not difficult. Remember that an interlocutor who is ready to meaningfully argue and defend his own point of view with arguments and facts is always interesting for a skeptic. He likes unambiguous arguments and justifications that do not raise doubts. Before you voice a specific proposal to him, carefully consider it for any pitfalls.
Having a skeptic on your team is always helpful. He calculates all possible scenarios, so getting into trouble with him is much more difficult. The romantics and idealists on your team may be offended by how harshly he besieges them. But this is a rational approach to avoid unfavorable developments.
The dangers of skepticism and cynicism
Therefore, it’s time to sum up some results and also say why it is dangerous to be a skeptic and a cynic.
From the above it is clear that skepticism and cynicism do not do anything special; they simply call for approaching everything from the point of view of reason, and not faith. Therefore, if someone asks us, a skeptic is a person of what beliefs, we can answer that he is a person who does not take anyone’s word for it and tests everything with the power of his intellect.
However, there is a certain subtlety to this worldview. It's that you can't put a building on anything. In other words, no matter how cynical and skeptical a person may be, he still has some secret faith that feeds his courageous mind. When it is not there, it will soon appear, and then the current skeptic will become a believer. We can say: what if the conviction in the existence of something higher does not come to a person? Then the believer in cynicism will fall into the clutches of nihilism. The latter is also not very good; let us at least remember the fate of Bazarov, and everything will immediately become clear to us.
