What I would have you know about skepticism

I'd have you know that skepticism is a constant search for truth. It's not perfect - even skeptics can be fooled and can be wrong. But the process of skepticism consists of constantly doing our best to be as truthful and honest as we can be. Skepticism is not a dogma. It is not a body of knowledge. It is a method - an approach to viewing the world through the lens of truth so we can navigate our way through times that can often be difficult and confusing. Skeptics take comfort in truth, but they are always aware of the ways in which they can be wrong.

Living through a pandemic is certainly difficult and confusing. But skeptics understand the need for expertise. We know that it is not possible to know everything about everything, but we have the humility to recognise that those who dedicate their lives and their careers to narrow scientific specialisations - such as virology and epidemiology - have more knowledge and understanding of these subjects than we do. We also understand that most scientists - unlike politicians or purveyors of health supplements - are generally honest and report facts accurately, because it is their job, their career, to do so. Do we have absolute assurance of this? No, we don't. But we have a pretty reliable trend. And we have seen examples of scientists who have lost their jobs, their careers, because they failed to uphold this principle of honesty.

Skeptics recognise that the track record of science is very impressive. Scientists, unlike astrologers, make predictions that actually come true. Scientists, unlike homeopaths, acknowledge when they have been wrong about something, and change their point of view accordingly. Scientists, unlike Bigfoot hunters, actually produce verifiable evidence to support their conclusions. And scientists, unlike conspiracy theorists, acknowledge that all conclusions are provisional and may be modified in the future because of new information.

Some scientists said some things at the beginning of this pandemic that turned out not to be true. Did they stick to their guns? No, they didn't. They corrected themselves and started saying things that were more true, because that's their job. Over the course of this pandemic, more and more true things became known, and now, two years later, we know a lot of true things about it. Do we know everything? No, we do not. But we're always searching for more true things to know.

Skeptics recognise the tremendous role that scientific expertise plays in the progress of civilisation and technology, and in understanding the wonderful and confusing universe that surrounds us. That is a recognition that is missing from mercola.com. It is missing from childrenshealthdefense.org. It is missing from @drtenpenny.

That is what I'd have you know about skepticism and its role during the pandemic. Do I, after spending over an hour composing this post, think that I'll change the minds of astrologers, homeopaths, Bigfoot hunters and conspiracy theorists? I do not. Because the evidence does not support that conclusion.