| At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? |    |
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Ophiel
Joined : 01 Feb 2008
Posts : 69
|  Subject: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism?  Thu 07 Feb 2008, 1:24 pm | |
| It is important to employ a healthy degree of skpeticism when dealing with the paranormal. However, at what point do you think that healthy skepticism goes too far and becomes cynicism? Are there any tell-tale signs that we should all be looking for?
Elsewhere we have been discussing skepticism / cynicism - but here it would be useful to explore the point at which a helpful system becomes unhelpful.
As an example I have a very old book which describes an incident at a Royal Society lecture circa 1900s. It concerns a lecture being given by some psychical researcher (I forget who it was). During the lecture, a scientists in the audience got up and shouted that the suggestions of the lecturer were ridiculous and that "nothing, no one, and no evidence could ever convince him that the paranormal was real". To me this view is cynicism and is actually unscientific and illogical. To claim no evidence would ever convince you is a truly closed-minded approach. This for me is what most people confuse as skepticism - but it is not skepticism in the true sense of the word. |
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Ian
Admin
Age : 35
Joined : 24 Aug 2007
Posts : 797
Location : Carlisle, Cumbria
| | Subject: Re: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? Thu 07 Feb 2008, 10:31 pm | |
| I dived for a dictionary as this could be a vocabulary minefield  .
A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind. Probably not a good dictionary by the look of it but this is what it says Skepticism is.
I think the key points there is that it says doubt, not disbelief and questioning, not closed minded. I say you cross the line when you stop questioning. |
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mysteryshopper
Joined : 05 Feb 2008
Posts : 163
| | Subject: Re: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? Fri 08 Feb 2008, 9:58 am | |
| I don't know when skepticism becomes cynicism. EVERY skeptic you talk to will deny being cynical. Personally, I'm a cynic and don't care who knows it.
Science includes a delicate balance of skepticism and creativity. If you have too much creativity (or not enough skepticism), ideas can creep in which are not supported by rigorous evidence. If you have too much skepticism, creativity is stifled, there are no new ideas and science grinds to a halt. You need to maintain a balance (ouch - that sounds terribly New Age ..  ). |
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Ophiel
Joined : 01 Feb 2008
Posts : 69
| | Subject: Re: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? Fri 08 Feb 2008, 11:14 am | |
| | Ian wrote: | I dived for a dictionary as this could be a vocabulary minefield .
A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind. Probably not a good dictionary by the look of it but this is what it says Skepticism is.
I think the key points there is that it says doubt, not disbelief and questioning, not closed minded. I say you cross the line when you stop questioning. |
A cynic is basically someone who says 'no' for the sake of it. A skeptic is someone who might say 'no' - but then provide you with a reasoned case for their position.
If you challenge that position then a true skeptic should explore your suggestions with you and provide viable counter-arguments or indeed, accept your position if it is the one most consistent with the highest quality evidence. However, you should do the same if you cannot provide viable counter-arguments and it is the skeptics position which is more consistent with the highest quality reasons. 
That for me, is the difference.
The point at which people stop asking questions means one of two things. Either the data we have is in such a final and explicit state that there is no need to go any further (rare - but can happen) or the individual cannot see the big holes in the account proposed. Good quality research should open their eyes.....but those are the eyes of a cynic not a skeptic
Last edited by on Fri 08 Feb 2008, 11:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ophiel
Joined : 01 Feb 2008
Posts : 69
| | Subject: Re: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? Fri 08 Feb 2008, 11:17 am | |
| | mysteryshopper wrote: | | I don't know when skepticism becomes cynicism. EVERY skeptic you talk to will deny being cynical. Personally, I'm a cynic and don't care who knows it. |
I dont think you are 
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Science includes a delicate balance of skepticism and creativity. If you have too much creativity (or not enough skepticism), ideas can creep in which are not supported by rigorous evidence. If you have too much skepticism, creativity is stifled, there are no new ideas and science grinds to a halt. You need to maintain a balance (ouch - that sounds terribly New Age .. ). |
I slightly disagree. Skepticism, if applied correctly, keeps one asking questions. Lets face it - most ghost hunting groups already have their entrenched ideas about what they are doing and only ever claim to find evidence that is consistent with it. This is totally unlike skepticism and is most certainly not creative in any way. |
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mysteryshopper
Joined : 05 Feb 2008
Posts : 163
| | Subject: Re: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? Fri 08 Feb 2008, 12:09 pm | |
| | Ophiel wrote: | | I slightly disagree. Skepticism, if applied correctly, keeps one asking questions. |
I think creativity can keep you asking questions too. Indeed, by coming up with a new idea, it inevitably creates hosts of new questions. Balance is definitely the key! |
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Ophiel
Joined : 01 Feb 2008
Posts : 69
| | Subject: Re: At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? Fri 08 Feb 2008, 12:27 pm | |
| | I agree. But there is more creativity in science than people often give credit for...... |
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| At what point does healthy skepticism become cynicism? | |
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