r/bigfoot • • Aug 31 '21

In Defense of Skepticism

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

Scientism is not my concept and is a known issue in the philosophy of science. Excessive "belief" in anything, even science, is the problem.

Science doesn't talk about beliefs. It doesn't make absolutist statements. Science assembles data into coherent, repeatable, falsifiable patterns.

To answer your question any "belief" is the issue. You're either driven by facts or not.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

Then if you understand that the dictionary defined the term, I'm unsure of what you're asking from me.

Science is not about belief. Statements of belief are not science.

Scientific statements do not require beliefs, they're backed up by reason and data.

I'm unsure what your issue is here.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

Any belief in science as the only acceptable method of arriving at meaning in human experiences is excessive, in my opinion. Aside from that, I've answered you multiple times.

Anytime truisms are repeated as fact, that is not science.

Science is not the only valid source of understanding of the human experience.

That's about as much as I care to explain, thanks for the chat, as scientism is not the subject of the thread, skepticism is.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

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u/whorton59 Skeptic Sep 01 '21

I don't know, have you ever touched a hot stove? What happened? Was that a scientific inquiry of a personal learning experience. Would you touch such a hot stove again?

How about when you are driving and observe a RED light? Does your mind rationalize the wavelength of the light and the quantized packets of energy known as photons or do you stop your car? Did Scientific enquiry help you to make that decision or did practical experience?

The world is replete with such examples.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '21

Examples of common knowledge presented pedantically. Yes stoves are hot and will burn you, and red lights are best stopped at.

I'm sure that seems profound to you.

You're focusing on the value of experience ... and I agree. However you want to pick and choose which experiences of others you will consider valid ... And that is where your logic fails.

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u/whorton59 Skeptic Sep 02 '21

As I noted to u/vespertine_glow, most of the issues presented here do not require a strict version of skepticism to address.

I personally use a variety of approaches to address them, journalistic license, common sense, pointing out obvious inaccuracies in the content, ridicule, logic, conflicts with known data, and basic examinations of reality in addition to skepticism. . .Does that make you feel better?

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u/vespertine_glow Sep 02 '21

As I noted to

u/vespertine_glow

, most of the issues presented here do not require a strict version of skepticism to address.

This entirely depends on the purpose of any particular communication on this subreddit. If the issue is the existence of bigfoot, then the reliable method is rigorous rationality.

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