Is skepticism an advantage and if so, does spreading it cancel out its effects ?

[El Greco]

By "advantage" I mean an increased ability to achieve your goals in life, whichever they may be.

[Yahweh]

Skepticism and critical thinking are always an advantage...

I could see how the spread of skepticism may not be the best of ideas, it may cause skeptics like myself would have fewer things to humor or converse about...

[T'ai Chi]

Much like it is important to have an open mind but not so open that your brain falls out, it is also important that it is not so closed that nothing new gets in.

Therefore my vote reflected my belief that skeptical thinking is very very important, but it is not the causal factor on ones' success.

[Darat]

Depends how you define advantage. ;)

You could say a sceptical approach to life and using critical thinking will give you a personal advantage over someone one who doesn't use it e.g. financially won't fork money out for magic potions like homeopathic remedies.

But I also think that if we all try to have a sceptical approach and use critical thinking in our day-to-day lives the world would be a significantly better place in a very short time.

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
Much like it is important to have an open mind but not so open that your brain falls out, it is also important that it is not so closed that nothing new gets in.
*Marvels for few minutes*

Good sig material :)

[Ed]

Without believers, our consumer society would collapse. We need fools who can be sold a bill of goods. Uncritical belief in the paranormal is just a manifestation of the "thinking" that allows P&G, for example, to market essentially the same product under different brand names. Please, never let scepticism prevail.

"If your children knew how lame you really are, they'd murder you in your sleep"

Frank Zappa

[EternalUniverse]

Originally posted by El Greco
By "advantage" I mean an increased ability to achieve your goals in life, whichever they may be.

I think skepticism and critical thinking are different things. Critical thinking or rational thinking is always good. Skepticism is a position of doubting, which involves rationality. The question is the evidence or level of "proof" the skeptic requires before a position is accepted. It is possible to be too skeptical, requiring proof for everything, a standard that probably sets the bar too high.

[Jeff Corey]

I disagree. Skeptical thinking and critical thinking are nearly synonymous. Both are part of the process of scientific discovery, the process that is responsible for all our advances over the disease-ridden superstitious ancient world.
But also for the invention of Weapons Of Mass Deception.

[EternalUniverse]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey
I disagree. Skeptical thinking and critical thinking are nearly synonymous. Both are part of the process of scientific discovery, the process that is responsible for all our advances over the disease-ridden superstitious ancient world.
But also for the invention of Weapons Of Mass Deception.

Perhaps I wasn't clear in making the distiction between skepticism and critical thinking. Critical thinking involves the general process of thinking logically and rationally. For example, evaluating an argument based on the actual argument made, and not the person making it. Skepticism involves not taking things at face value, requiring a certain level of evidence before accepting a position. It is generally a doubting position.

In the case that I'm not being clear, look at some definitions I found on the web.

For critical thinking:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=define:Critical+Thinking

For skepticism:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=define:Skepticism

[Flaherty]

I see nothing but benefits if everyone were to adopt a healthy skeptical attitude toward the claims made in the marketplace, by government, and by religions. With more skepticism, we would have fewer Enrons and fewer Heaven's Gate cults. It would be harder for a politician to lie to the public and for terror groups to recruit members based on promises of virgins in an afterlife. Television preachers might have to find real work and used car salesmen might have to mark down their lemons in a world with more skepticism.

In short, more healthy skepticism would yield a society in which people would be a little more honest with each other and themselves.