Why Being Skeptic could benefit us?

“We must develop skepticism as a means rather than an end.” Gille Lipovetsky. French philosopher and sociologist.

Photo by Design Wala on Unsplash

What does skepticism mean?

Depending on the source, skepticism may have different meanings. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, skeptics can be represented by:

1. An attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object

2.a. The doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain

2.b The method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics.

According to Wikipedia, there are different versions corresponding to Philosophical Skepticism. From them, I will choose that attributed to Sextus Empiricus, which represented the less radical category of this school of thought. From this source, we quote:

One can have reasons for doubt that are based on the relationship between objective “facts” and subjective experience.

So, for this article, I will assume the common-sense version of both mentioned sources: That of an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity in general or toward a particular object.

Why does skepticism help us achieve a better sense of reality?

There are matters one can trust natural science for given a precise description of its behavior, such as natural phenomena, where science has ways to represent in mathematical form with high accuracy and precision. But, when dealing with subjective and relative matters rather than facts, one must form our opinions. Info from social networks deals frequently with social themes, such as politics and culture, which need to be validated by searching for more credible and authorized sources.

One has to make sense of any specific claim or social issue before making a responsible decision: Whom can we trust? How do we make sure that I am advocating for the right cause?

Skepticism presents us with an alternative path: suspension of judgment due to inadequacy or lack of evidence.

Why does pausing represent an opportunity?

The pause that brings the skeptical approach could become an opportunity for reframing and clearing questions about the information available. We do this via research or talking to friends with better knowledge or experience in matters of interest to us.

Another skill we should develop to make better decisions is a more focused look at our interests. By prioritizing, we will dedicate more time and effort to relevant matters rather than solving curiosity issues that could be deferred for another time.

What should we do when dealing with new information?

1. Make a pause, suspend your judgment. Especially when you interact on social media where your profile is shared and used by unscrupulous actors.
2. Discard information from unknown sources.
3. Dedicate some time to validate the info of your interest with credible sources, such as conventional media, or by searching on the WEB for authors with academic knowledge or experience in the subject.