what do you think?
:-)
2007-06-17 14:44:15 · 40 answers · asked by enki 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I'd say it makes you realistic. Without belabouring how MUCH of a skeptic you are, or if you're "selectively" skeptical--the main emphasis is on questioning of accepted beliefs, perhaps not so much from a position of of open-minded uncertainty as from one of an a priori conviction where the truth lies. It can be a philosophical belief that no final truths can be known. To me, the best of it is that a skeptic doesn't accept anything blindly. That doesn't at all suggest pessimism to me. An inquiring mind has nothing to do with someone who thinks "nothing is going to be alright." Yet! At times I find you quite a romantic which is basically emotional & unrealistic! Seems like a great balance to me! (Or could it be ambivalant??) Don't ask me! I'm just a cat...(but I AM psychic).
2007-06-17 17:51:09 · answer #1 · answered by Psychic Cat 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It makes you realistic, though at times perhaps a bit pessimistic also. A truly pessimistic person will think, "things will always turn out badly", or "this can't be true." A skeptic will think, "I'm not so sure this is true, or things will work out well, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief to see how it turns out." A pessimistic person is never realistic, because things are almost never as bad as they think. A skeptic is someone who wants to know the truth and refuses to see the world falsely through the lenses of the extremists, the optimists and the pessimists.
2007-06-17 15:22:34 · answer #2 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm...that depends. An idealist doesn't question or doubt but believes the best about everything. A pessimist is skeptical and doubts everything or believes the worst. A realist evaluates the situation, hopeful or skeptical when there is reason to be.
If you told me pigs could fly I'd be skeptical, because it's highly unlikely, but this is realistic not pessimistic.
2007-06-17 15:45:08 · answer #3 · answered by amp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that you've been burned enough times to realize it's not wise to put your neck on the line for just any old thing...
erm, I suppose many pessimists are also skeptics. I've never really heard of an optimist being skeptical though I'm sure it does happen. You are definitely realistic because you learn from past experiences, "always look before you leap!"
2007-06-17 19:46:26 · answer #4 · answered by d_jayde_318 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could be all three, they all have different meanings. If you're skeptic (doubtful) that things will work out (pessimistic) and they don't, well that's realistic because it's reality. If you are skeptic and things do work out in the end then maybe you could be negative about yourself, or anxious, or insecure, which may or may not be realistic....
2007-06-17 17:10:41 · answer #5 · answered by patel2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of the two choices you give here. . . I'd choose " realistic ".
At times a skeptic is one who wonders, gives thought before making choices. . . That's wise, open minded and being realistic.
A pessimistic person would be more of a " sky is falling " type mind...more close minded.
With the little information you've given here as to other background...I'm choosing " realistic ".
.
2007-06-17 20:30:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It makes you skeptical.
You may be a pessimistic skeptic, always having a negative question to every answer or you may be a realistic skeptic, someone who objectively questions those things that are beyond common experience, but accepts those things that are commonly known to be true.
Peace
2007-06-17 15:32:14 · answer #7 · answered by zingis 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The answer lies in the degree of skepticism.
If you are skeptical to the point of never trusting, never believing, never taking risks, your focus is on the holes in theories and evidence, or you tend to always think others have negative ulterior motives, your perspective about knowledge, things, and others is probably pessimistic.
If you are skeptical in the sense that you are careful, you don't blindly accept everything as it seems, as truths, or trust all of what you are merely told, you are probably just realistic.
2007-06-17 15:00:15 · answer #8 · answered by K 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
but a skeptic of what? to say you're skeptical that the world is a cruel place or that people are fundamentally bad would place you as an optimist. however, to say the opposite would make you pessimistic. it can't be a realism. neither idea is totally true. i would say it's a point of view question as to how you see things, but it has nothing to do with total reality. life is life, people are people. both will surprise you and make you glad, then later disappoint you.
2007-06-17 16:52:40 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, being a skeptic makes you skeptical. Neither realistic nor pessimistic means exactly the same thing. Pax- C
2007-06-17 15:02:50 · answer #10 · answered by Persiphone_Hellecat 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋