Skip to main content

Skeptics. Yes or No?


Skepticism is important in every subject.  It functions as a governor for the runaway bad theory, bad idea, or erroneous method.  It often gets a bad reputation because it tends to go too far as to restrict, restrain, and retard good theories, ideas, and methods. 
Skepticism is important in your life. It regulates against rumors and gossip, for example. It regulates against miracle cures.  
In psychology, it was Freudianism that went too far with incorrect interpretations of sexuality. It was a runaway and was only brought back after it failed too many times.  
In geology, the theory of plate tectonics was thoroughly defeated by skeptics for a long time - until clear proof was offered. 
In cosmology, skeptics and theorists overlap, with one theory slapped down by another, with one skeptic scewered by another. 
Don’t get me started on bloodletting, vaccines, gravity, educational theories, origins of life, and more. Skeptics still reign on some of these. Quiz: Which of these are settled?*
Sciences that are not so scientific are often victims of new untested theories because the skeptics are trampled by the enthusiasts. These include sociology and psychology.  Also, note philosophical sciences such as epistemology and ontology can be included.  They try to be sciences, but there is no theory, or unique theory.
Think of skepticism as that little voice in your mind saying, “I hear what you say, but prove it.”

*Only the first two. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Please Comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Behavioral Science and Problem-Solving

I.                                       I.                 Introduction.                Concerning our general behavior, it’s high about time we all had some understanding of how we operate on ourselves, and it is just as important how we are operated on by others. This is the wheelhouse of behavioral sciences. It is a vast subject. It touches our lives constantly. It’s influence is pervasive and can be so subtle we never notice it. Behavioral sciences profoundly affect our ability and success at problem-solving, from the elementary level to highly complex wicked problems. This is discussed in Section IV. We begin with the basics of behavioral sciences, Section II, and then through the lens of multiple categories and examples, Section III. II.     ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Principles of Insufficiency and Sufficiency

   The principles we use but don't know it.  1.      Introduction . Every field, scientific or otherwise, rests on foundational principles—think buoyancy, behavior, or democracy. Here, we explore a unique subset: principles modified by "insufficiency" and "sufficiency." While you may never have heard of them, you use them often. These terms frame principles that blend theory, practicality, and aspiration, by offering distinct perspectives. Insufficiency often implies inaction unless justified, while sufficiency suggests something exists or must be done. We’ll examine key examples and introduce a new principle with potential significance. As a principle of principles of these is that something or some action is not done enough while others may be done too much. The first six (§2-6) of our principles are in the literature, and you can easily search them online. The others are relatively new, but fit the concepts in the real world. At times, these pri...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Lemming Instinct

  In certain vital domains, a pervasive mediocrity among practitioners can stifle genuine advancement. When the intellectual output of a field is predominantly average, it inevitably produces research of corresponding quality. Nevertheless, some of these ideas, by sheer chance or perhaps through effective dissemination, will inevitably gain traction. A significant number of scholars and researchers will gravitate towards these trends, contributing to and propagating further work along these established lines. Such a trajectory allows an initially flawed concept to ascend to the status of mainstream orthodoxy. However, over an extended period, these prevailing ideas invariably fail to withstand rigorous scrutiny; they are ultimately and conclusively disproven. The disheartening pattern then reveals itself: rather than genuine progress, an equally unvalidated or incorrect idea often supplants the discredited one, swiftly establishing its own dominance. This cycle perpetuates, ensurin...
Post a Comment
Read more