The Burden of Skepticism

The Burden of Skepticism

Name

Institution

The Burden of Skepticism

Part 1

• Skepticism is commonplace and challenges the status quo/ institutions
• Commercial advertisements work to suppress skepticism by appealing to popular belief systems
• Emotional vulnerability of claims require skeptical scrutiny
• Skepticism could help avert major national and global crises
• Should be taught in schools
• A balance between skepticism and openness to new ideas paves the way to understanding and make use of the best ideas

Part 2

Skepticism is an innate character that makes people challenge the status quo and institution of things and ideas with the aim of making informed decisions. This is done through constructive interpersonal confrontations that allow one to think critically and ask intelligent questions that lead to the separation of fact from fiction. Skepticism gives an individual a variety of skills that allow them the insight to be flexible in their scrutiny of facts and ideas that are presented to them while allowing them the humility to accept and learn new things. This is however hard at times since people have a lot of emotional predispositions to their popular beliefs and knowledge bases that make them resistant to change and is more evident in science fields. Skepticism is a defense mechanism that kicks in when we feel emotionally vulnerable with the information we are receiving causing us to question popular beliefs and institutions. The education system should be improved to enable students to know how to balance questioning and acceptance of new information to ensure they can develop their own informed conclusions as this benefits the development of knowledge and information.

Part 3

The importance of finding a balance between skepticism and accepting new knowledge was most useful since it furthers the creation and development of knowledge through following evidence chains. By carrying out better investigations and research, I will understand concepts better and have better quality arguments that could benefit others and our future. I was surprised with how people only agree with new view only to the extent that those views do not encroach on their own. I still do not understand why the populous vote in politicians whose policies and track records are poor in spite of the information they have and would very much like to know what can be done to ensure that schools inculcate critical thinking into their curricular.