Argument # 13:  “A common myth is that Skepticism is cynicism.  It is not.  Skepticism is a method of inquiry.”

 

This statement is usually found in introductions or FAQ’s sections of skeptical websites and books.  Here is an example from the website of The Skeptics Society: (http://www.skeptic.com/faqs.html) 

 

“What does it mean to be a skeptic? Some people believe that skepticism is rejection of new ideas, or worse, they confuse “skeptic” with “cynic” and think that skeptics are a bunch of grumpy curmudgeons unwilling to accept any claim that challenges the status quo. This is wrong. Skepticism is a provisional approach to claims. It is the application of reason to any and all ideas-no sacred cows allowed. In other words, skepticism is a method, not a position.”

 

What these skeptics don’t understand is that people in general don’t have misconceptions about skepticism as a concept.  The cynicism that people see in so called “skepticism” is not due to their misunderstanding of the word itself, but due to the cynical WORDS and ACTIONS of the PEOPLE who call themselves skeptics.  When pseudo-skeptics make cynical statements such as in the arguments presented in this article, they portray to others a cynical closed method of thinking, dismissing anything that they don’t understand or consider possible.  That’s where this impression comes from.  Cynics who masquerade behind science and skepticism often reveal their cynicism through their words, thinking methodologies, closed system of beliefs, and dogmatic assertions.  The six common flawed tactics described in the introduction of this article are the kind of things that  give others the impression of cynicism.  This is why even some of the well known skeptics and leaders of organized skeptic groups are perceived as cynics, including James Randi (the famous magician, author, debunker, and nemesis of Uri Geller), Michael Shermer (editor of Skeptic magazine), Joe Nickell (one of the leaders of CSICOP), Martin Gardner (psychic debunker), Susan Blackmore (University of London Psychology Professor and proponent of the Dying Brain Hypothesis of NDE’s), etc.  These people use closed ways of thinking to dismiss data that don’t fit into their hypotheses, which is prevalent from statements made in their articles/books.  Therefore, these closed-minded skeptics are the ones that have the misconception of mistaking their cynicism with true skepticism.

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