Do you know the meaning of the word "skeptic"?

Question

SKEPSIS was a town in Ancient Greece, where the people knew nothing about the World, except what went on in their own little town.
Calling someone a skeptic was a cut-down.
Sooooo. A little healthy skeptism is good thing. You don't want to but 50 acres of ocean to build a Resort on. But those who PRIDE themselves today on being a skeptic. Are priding themselves on the fact they don't know SQUAT!

Answer 1

"But those who PRIDE themselves today on being a skeptic. Are priding themselves on the fact they don't know SQUAT!"

Interesting reasoning, if you want to call it that.
Interesting placement of the period, too.

Answer 2

Some people believe that skepticism is the 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. Ideally, skeptics do not go into an investigation closed to the possibility that a phenomenon might be real or that a claim might be true. When we say we are “skeptical,” we mean that we must see compelling evidence before we believe.

Skepticism has a long historical tradition dating back to ancient Greece, when Socrates observed: “All I know is that I know nothing.” But this pure position is sterile and unproductive and held by virtually no one. If you were skeptical about everything, you would have to be skeptical of your own skepticism. Like the decaying subatomic particle, pure skepticism uncoils and spins off the viewing screen of our intellectual cloud chamber.

Modern skepticism is embodied in the scientific method, which involves gathering data to formulate and test naturalistic explanations for natural phenomena. A claim becomes factual when it is confirmed to such an extent it would be reasonable to offer temporary agreement. But all facts in science are provisional and subject to challenge, and therefore skepticism is a method leading to provisional conclusions. Some claims, such as water dowsing, ESP, and creationism, have been tested (and failed the tests) often enough that we can provisionally conclude that they are not valid. Other claims, such as hypnosis, the origins of language, and black holes, have been tested but results are inconclusive so we must continue formulating and testing hypotheses and theories until we can reach a provisional conclusion.

The key to skepticism is to continuously and vigorously apply the methods of science to navigate the treacherous straits between “know nothing” skepticism and “anything goes” credulity. Over three centuries ago the French philosopher and skeptic, René Descartes, after one of the most thorough skeptical purges in intellectual history, concluded that he knew one thing for certain: Cogito ergo sum — I think therefore I am. But evolution may have designed us in the other direction. Humans evolved to be pattern-seeking, cause-inferring animals, shaped by nature to find meaningful relationships in the world. Those who were best at doing this left behind the most offspring. We are their descendents. In other words, to be human is to think:

Sum Ergo Cogito —
I Am Therefore I Think.

Answer 3

I think you mean that modern day skeptics pride themselves on the fact that they doubt.

You appeared to be at first speaking about some long dead people insulting other dead people by comparing them to other (unconfirmed, possibly an old urban legend, or a morals story) people that might or might not have existed at one time or another...

What's the connection? The fact that this possibly mythical town shares a similarity in the spoken name of a philosophy?

Please enlighten me of the significance of this? When I call my bedroom spartan, do I really mean that it's an aincent warrior culture with weird customs? Should I start killing deformed babies in my bedroom?

Or is this like "democracy"? If you look at Plato's republic; when you speak of democracy, you're talking about one of the sucky methods of ruling...

Or could it be that the words have a different meaning these days? I think so..

Answer 4

From the Online Etymology Dictionary:

skeptic
1587, "member of an ancient Gk. school that doubted the possibility of real knowledge," from Fr. sceptique, from L. scepticus, from Gk. skeptikos (pl. Skeptikoi "the Skeptics"), lit. "inquiring, reflective," the name taken by the disciples of the Gk. philosopher Pyrrho (c.360-c.270 B.C.E.), from skeptesthai "to reflect, look, view" (see scope (1)). The extended sense of "one with a doubting attitude" first recorded 1615. The sk- spelling is an early 17c. Gk. revival and is preferred in U.S.
"Skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found." [Miguel de Unamuno, "Essays and Soliloquies," 1924]

Answer 5

The word may have had one meaning centuries ago but that meaning has changed.


Here is a scenario for you. You are at home and there is a knock at the door. You open it up and there is a guy standing there who claims to be Jesus. He is there and has some people with him. Him and all of the people talk about the wonderful miracles he has performed and how is he is the son of god. However, he does not give you any proof at all of this. His biographers will completely vouch for him but they do not give any proof either. The guy wants you to sell everything you own and give him the money and you then join him and his followers. Would you? Or would you be skeptical?

Answer 6

Skeptical is the only way to be. IE don't accept until it is proven. Otherwise one can end up swallowing a lot of ocean of cr**. It is not because a person knows diddly squat but the opposite.

So right Mato®™©

Answer 7

A word can have various meaning.
1. a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
2. a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
3. a person who doubts the truth of a religion, esp. Christianity, or of important elements of it.
4. (initial capital letter) Philosophy.
a. a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.
b. any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.
You definition is not even there.

Answer 8

diverse translations of the bible could recommend love and charity are synonmus. Examples present in.1st Corrinthians ch. 13 vs. a million-17 illustrate this many situations. i could savor listening to from a student of the languages utilized in those previous situations to make sparkling my expertise. the tale of the "international's Poorest Philanthropist", Gilbert "Harold" Ewing II (myself) is the reason of this querry. The " act of grace", or charity, reffered to contained in the information interview, has posited this question and that i lack the form of practise to furnish any insights of real value.

Answer 9

You are misconstruing the origin of the word with its current meaning...

Would you for example consider a Swastika to be a good luck symbol ? or to represent the Nazi's ? most would associate it with the Nazi's now... that is the more common usage for that symbol.

I imagine most people would associate the meaning of skepticism now with merely not accepting everything you read or hear at face value. It would be an antonym to gullible to be skeptical...

Answer 10

Just as the word "Atheist" originated as an insult against Christians who denied the Roman pantheon but no longer means that, so the modern meaning of "skeptic" has little to do with the original meaning either.

By the way, your etymology is completely wrong. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=skeptic