#skepticism

Most institutions demand unqualified faith; but the institution of science makes skepticism a virtue. ↗

— Robert K. Merton

#skepticism #faith

...Today the lack of faith is an expression of profound confusion and despair. Once skepticism and rationalism were progressive forces for the development of thought; now they have become rationalizations for relativism and uncertainty. ↗

— Erich Fromm

#skepticism #faith

The doctrine of the sacredness of the soul sounds vaguely uplifting, but in fact is highly malignant. It discounts life on earth as just a temporary phase that people pass through, indeed, an infinitesimal fraction of their existence…the gradual replacement of lives for souls as the locus of moral value was helped along by the ascendency of skepticism and reason ↗

— Steven Pinker

#life

The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, skepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin. ↗

— Thomas Huxley

#acknowledge #authority #blind #blind faith #duties

The same principles which at first view lead to skepticism, pursued to a certain point, bring men back to common sense. ↗

— George Berkeley

#bring #certain #certain point #common #common sense

I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#skepticism #religion