Scientific skepticism or rational skepticism (UK spelling, scepticism) sometimes referred to as skeptical inquiry, is a scientific, or practical, epistemological position (or paradigm) in which one questions the veracity of claims unless they can be empirically tested. In practice, a scientific skeptic generally focuses on debunking theories which they believe to be far beyond the mainstream of science, as opposed to a professional scientist, who focuses on extending scientific knowledge.
Scientific skepticism is different from philosophical skepticism, which questions our right to claim knowledge about the nature of the world and how we perceive it. Scientific skepticism utilizes critical thinking and is the opposite of what is known as the true-believer syndrome.
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The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skeptical definitions and essays on occult, paranormal, pseudoscientific ideas and practices with references to skeptical literature.
Meta Description: [ critical thinking ]
#Skeptic IRC - Weekly internet relay chat for skeptics.
A Skeptical Manifesto - Article by Michael Shermer defines and discusses skepticism. Includes a section that asserts a skeptic can also be open to scientific reason. Written in 1992.
Astronomical Pseudo-science: A Skeptic's Resource List - A bibliography from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, for those who want to examine with a skeptical eye some of the claims at the fringes of science that seem connected to astronomy.
Meta Description: [ The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is an international nonprofit scientific and educational organization founded in 1889 that works to increase understanding and appreciation of astronomy. ]
Bad Science - About well understood phenomena which are persistently presented incorrectly by teachers and writers.
BookTalk - Dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, intelligence, freedom of inquiry, philosophy and the scientific method. Forums include chats with the authors.
Meta Description: [ BookTalk.org - online book discussion community ]
Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit - Tools for testing arguments and detecting fallacious or fraudulent arguments, based on Sagan's book The Demon Haunted World: Science as a candle in the dark.
Meta Description: [ There are cults out there that need to be exposed, because they destroy people. The Church of Scientology is such a cult, to back up this strong claim I need to collect some of their secret literature. I want you to read it and make up your own mind. ]
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal - World-wide organization that encourages the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view.
Meta Description: [ World-wide organization that encourages the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view. ]
Crank Dot Net - Skeptic provides categorized directory, both alphabetical and hierarchical, to a variety of kooks, cranks, loons, and crackpots on the net.
Meta Description: [ Crank Dot Net: cranks, crackpots, kooks, & loons on the net ]
Criticism of Scientific Skepticism - Criticizes self-identified skeptics, saying that their skepticism translates into scorn and condescension toward people and data that contradict current scientific beliefs. Gives examples of the excesses of skeptics.
Meta Description: [ Skeptics, skeptics, skepticism, the skeptic, controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, pathological skeptics,pathological skepticism,revolutionary ideas, investigating pseudoscience and the paranormal,inconvenient facts,promotion of science,skeptic magazine, skeptics Society, skeptic's dictionary ]
Danny's Skeptic Resources List - Features list and highlights of skeptical information available on the web.
Debunker's Domain - Dedicated to debunking all manner of dubious claims.
Meta Description: [ The Debunker's Domain by Robert Sheaffer. Skeptical resources on UFOs, paranormal claims, so-called feminist 'scholarship' ]
Eric's Skeptic Page - A skeptical look at all sorts of sciences and pseudosciences.
Meta Description: [ a skeptical look at physics, epistemology, schizophrenics, racists, genetics, futurism, religion, searchfor truth, history, anthropology, meaning, insanity, darwinianism, spiritualism,skepticism, humor, destiny, metaphysics ]
Fortean Times - The Journal of Strange Phenomenae. Online version of the print magazine.
Meta Description: [ Fortean Times Magazine – the world of strange phenomena featuring weird news, strange pictures, videos, books, film reviews and more ]
Free Inquiry - Argues for free inquiry and thought; the philosophies of naturalism, empiricism, rationalism, and skepticism.
Massimo's Skeptic and Humanist Web - Addresses the topic of skepticism and secular humanism. Page includes lectures. handouts, and online column. Also, has links to book reviews and essays.
Meta Description: [ This site contains essays, columns, online presentations, and book reviews by Dr. Massimo Pigliucci. ]
Nova: Kidnapped by UFOs? - Companion site for TV program in which believers and skeptics, including Carl Sagan, explore case histories of alien abductions.
Number Watch - Monitors the media in search of misleading numbers in news, politics and science.
Meta Description: [ Number Watch monitors the media in search of misleading numbers in news, politics and science ]
NYTimes.com - Odds Are Stacked When Science Tries to Debate Pseudoscience - Essay. Having a debate inevitably suggests that each side has some credibility. As a result, opponents of the scientific method try very hard to appear in debates with scientists. [Requires free NYTimes.com registration to view]
Practical Skepticism - A how-to guide for examining claims and debunking myths, math abuse, and misleading arguments.
Psychologists Educating Students to Think Skeptically - PESTS is a meeting place for educators (specifically psychologists, although anyone is welcome) to discuss issues involving skeptical thinking and ways to introduce and teach skeptical thinking in the classroom.
Reality Matters - Debunks religion, the origin of God, the Bible, near death experiences and paranormal contacts with spirits.
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sci.skeptic FAQ - Frequently asked questions about the sci.skeptic newsgroup.
SIMPOS - Netherlands foundation for information on social problems and occult tendencies.
Meta Description: [ Occultism: tendencies A-Z. Influences on problems like racism, economy, ecology, education, and democracy ]
Skepchick - A woman's skeptical science and life blog.
Skeptic Friends Network - Examines a variety of claims with emphasis on debunking creation science.
Meta Description: [ The mission of the Skeptic Friends Network is to promote skepticism, critical thinking, science and logic as the best methods for evaluating all claims of fact, and we invite active participation by our members to create a skeptical community with a wide variety of viewpoints and expertise. ]
Skeptic News - Tracks new information on various skeptical web pages.
Meta Description: [ The "What's New" page for skeptics. ]
Skeptic Report - E-zine featuring writings on skeptical inquiry and critical thinking. Also lists related books and provides links to numerous websites on topics including skepticism, alternative science, creationism, and health fraud.
Skeptic's Digest - Here you can access the best skeptical articles on the Web about the occult, paranormal, pseudoscience and other weird things
Meta Description: [ Here you can access the best skeptical articles on the Web about the unexplained, paranormal, pseudoscience and other fringe phenomena. ]
Skeptical Information Links - Links to materials for skeptics, and about skepticism.
Meta Description: [ Jim Lippard's Skeptical Information Site ]
Skeptical Investigations - Criticism of skepticism, including information about fraud in mainstream science and questioning of the methods and motives of skeptics.
Meta Description: [ investigation into skepticism in science ]
Skeptical Pages by Tommy Persson - Links to newsletters, organizations, and websites.
Skeptical References - A bibliography of materials for skeptics.
Skepticality Skeptic and Critical Thought News - Roughly mongthly podcast of interviews with prominent skeptical thinkers.
Skeptix Mailing List - Forum discussion about extraordinary phenomena. Includes post archives and subscription information.
The Crackpot Page - Dedicated to all the Flat Earthers, Circle Squarers, Angle Trisecters, Cube Halvers, Perpetual Motion Mechanics, UFO and Elvis sighters, and all the other true believers who adamantly refuse to accept mathematical or physical proof that their convictions are untenable.
The Daily Skeptic - Online newsletter, devoted to skeptical inquiry.
The James Randi Educational Foundation - Foundation headed by professional magician exposes psychics, faith healers, and such. Offers $1.1 million to anyone who can actually demonstrate something supernatural.
Meta Description: [ James Randi Educational Foundation - an educational resource on the paranormal, pseudoscientific, and the supernatural. ]
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The Left Hemisphere - Skepticism, religion, and secularism on the WWW.
The Nasty Side of Organ Transplanting - The secrets of organ harvesting and transplanting known only to the professionals in the business.
The Secular Web - Agnosticism, atheism, freethought, humanism, and rationalism on the Web
Meta Description: [ The Secular Web is the world's most comprehensive website devoted to the promotion and defense of a naturalistic worldview, the view that our natural world is all that there is, a closed system in the sense that nothing that is neither a part nor a product of it can affect it. The Secular Web inc... ]
The Skeptic Magazine - United Kingdom publication, taking a skeptical look at pseudoscience and claims of the paranormal.
The Skeptic Tank - The Skeptic Tank is a BBS which maintains extensive archives on scientifically questionable groups, individuals, and ideologies. Message board and articles.
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The Skeptic's Bunker - A personal page, intended to advance logic and rational thought over blind faith.
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The Skeptic's Refuge - Gateway to The Skeptic's Dictionary with skeptical articles on the occult, the supernatural, the paranormal and the pseudoscientific.
The Skeptics Society - The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionary ideas and the promotion of science.
Meta Description: [ The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionary ideas, and the promotion of science. ]
The Skeptomaniac - Skeptical commentary on paranormal belief and thought, including a message board for readers.
The View from Number 80 - Lists sites pertaining to, amongst other things, pseudoscience, flim-flam or irrational claims and tries to give them critical attention and, in many cases, a certain amount of ridicule.
Tony Youens - Skeptic articles, information, books from Tony Youens - parapsychology investigations.
Meta Description: [ Articles and investigations into psychic claims by UK Skeptic Tony Youens ]
TrueAuthority.com - Experts test claims on subjects including dinosaurs, creation/evolution, and cryptozoology.
What is pseudoscience? - How it differs from science, how to spot it. Junk science, pathological science, quackery and pseudoscientific scams.
Meta Description: [ What is pseudoscience, and how can you recognize it? ]
X-Project Paranormal Magazine - Web e-zine featuring a series of skeptical articles.
Meta Description: [ The X-Project Magazine is a daily paranormal news magazine investigating the paranormal, UFOs, cryptozoology, the occult, and Fortean events from a critical and rational perspective. ]
Zetetics Laboratory - Laboratory at the University of Nice where paranormal phenomena are studied.
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