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What Skeptic means

truethat

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truethat
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Sep 10, 2007
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My husband is Greek and I was describing some of the exchanges on here and he said "But its a skeptic forum" and I said "yes" and he said "Well in Greek Skeptic means thinker, it seems to me that people think Skeptic means doubter.

I was so glad he pointed this out because its exactly the problem I have in discussing faith with people.

Even though I don't believe in faith for me, I do recognize a sort of validity and resonance of other people's experiences. And so when people tell me about them I will listen to them and think about what they are saying. Sometimes I can see where in my opinion they are making fantasy out of a coincidence or something similar.

But what I've noticed so far on this site and other people who call themselves Skeptics, is that they think being a skeptic means doubting everything at face value until proven otherwise.

Curious if others share this experience or what people have to say about it.


skep·tic also scep·tic (skptk)
n.
1. One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
2. One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3. Philosophy
a. often Skeptic An adherent of a school of skepticism.
b. Skeptic A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? b.c.).
[Latin Scepticus, disciple of Pyrrho of Elis, from Greek Skeptikos, from skeptesthai, to examine; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
 
Examining things involves doubt. Not necessarily out-right dismissal, but definitely doubt.
 
Skeptics are people who apply the scientific method to their everyday lives
 
Um, the Skeptic "school" in Ancient Greece began in radical doubt. Pyrrho's thrust was that we cannot know the true world.

I don't know enough Greek to know about your husband's claim linguistically. But regarding the history of philosophy he is simply wrong.

I think you may be inferring too much from interactions here. This is a debate board. To debate a topic we must assume a contrary position. Now, it does not need to be a diametrically opposed position, but agreement is not where discussions generally begin in this place.

Most of what goes on is not simply radical doubt, but picking apart the logic of a proposition. Doubting the verity of a claim or evidence is an important part of the process.

There is actually not much that goes on here that Socrates himself did not engage.
 
Skeptics are people who doubt certain beliefs.

But the James Randi forum isn't even skeptical, they're just closed-minded on purpose and talk crap because their behind a computer. In other words, morons. Any scientist knows that we don't have all knowledge.
 
AmyWilson said:
Skeptics are people who doubt certain beliefs.

But the James Randi forum isn't even skeptical, they're just closed-minded on purpose and talk crap because their behind a computer. In other words, morons. Any scientist knows that we don't have all knowledge.
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As will any skeptic.

By the way, calling someone a moron while saying "THEIR MORONS", well, it's pretty funny.
 
I like to study things and look into stuff and then decide if I believe or not.When I was a teenager I read "Chariots of the Gods" and believed it until I done lots of research and figured out it was all crap.
I have done this with lots of things and most of all was done in the days before computors or internet.
I dont necessary doubt everything but I like to research and make my own mind up.So far I have not found any evidence of any superior being or gods.
 
truethat said:
My husband is Greek and I was describing some of the exchanges on here and he said "But its a skeptic forum" and I said "yes" and he said "Well in Greek Skeptic means thinker, it seems to me that people think Skeptic means doubter.
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People usually post in English here, so it's probably best to use an English definition.
 
The Online etymology dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=skeptic) states that it's origin is from "'skeptesthai' 'to reflect, look, view'", which is not the same as "to think" however since apparently the first record instance of it being used as "one with a doubting attitude" was 1615 I'd suggest that you're onto a losing battle if you want to get it's use changed back to mean "reflect, look, view".
 
Skeptic seems to be someone withholds their judgement until they have sufficent reason to believe. Also, as Randi says they are willing to be shown.
 
truethat said:
But what I've noticed so far on this site and other people who call themselves Skeptics, is that they think being a skeptic means doubting everything at face value until proven otherwise.
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Is this a bad thing?
 
A skeptic, in general and as far as I see it, is someone who asks for evidence and explanations, instead of just accepting what people tell them. We expect other people to "show their work", especially when they are presenting a new or controversial idea.

If you look at what we do on this site, for instance... even the most anti-woo of us don't stop at saying "you're wrong", or "there's no reason to believe you."

Instead, people say "you're wrong, and here's why", or "there's no reason to believe you, unless you produce some evidence. Where we seem short-tempered and "closed minded" is when people insult our intelligence by presenting the same old nonsense as if it were new and original information worth being open minded about.

That whole open/closed business is part of the problem. It is not "open minded" to treat things as real until they are disproven... it is just lazy thinking. It is not "closed minded" to reject ideas that have no evidence to support them... it is the sign of a person with good critical thinking skills. To paraphrase: the reason you open your mind is the same as the reason you open your mouth, in order to close down on something solid. I'm completely open minded to new evidence. If you haven't got any evidence, then what is there for me to be open minded about? Nothing at all, of course.
 
Miss Anthrope said:
As will any skeptic.

By the way, calling someone a moron while saying "THEIR MORONS", well, it's pretty funny.
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I love when people do that :j1:


Hmm I'm noticing the same kind of defensiveness that I've seen before. No one is trying to "force a change" Darat, what BATTLE? I simply asked a question to try to understand how people see skepticism.

The defensive knee jerk reaction that always seems to accompany skepticism on forums, puzzles me. It comes across as someone with a grudge of sorts rather than just dissecting the information.
 
truethat said:
...snip...

Hmm I'm noticing the same kind of defensiveness that I've seen before. No one is trying to "force a change" Darat, what BATTLE? I simply asked a question to try to understand how people see skepticism.

...snip...
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My post was made in response to the repeated claim you made in your OP:

truethat said:
...snip...

"Well in Greek Skeptic means thinker, it seems to me that people think Skeptic means doubter.

...snip...
Click to expand...

Pointing out that your husband was wrong and posting the evidence is not defensive, it's merely getting the facts right.
 
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