skepticism
Attitude of disbelief
Skepticism is a disposition to question claims rather than accept them at face value.
A healthy skepticism demands evidence before belief: Her skepticism about miracle cures kept her from wasting money.
The word can shade toward cynicism when doubt becomes reflexive rather than reasoned.
In philosophy, skepticism is the formal position that certain knowledge is impossible or that inquiry should be suspended.
State of being unsure
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- warinessCautious distrust
reservation · ambivalence · tentativeness · qualms · incredulity · distrust · leery · apprehension
Knowledge through observation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- CartesianOf x-y coordinate geometry
- foundationalismKnowledge rests on basics
justification · certitude · epistemic · methodological · solipsism · phenomenology · relativism
Susceptibility to disproof
- evidence-basedSupported by verified data
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- double-blindNeither tester nor tested knows
Close, careful examination
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
inquiry · investigation · assessment · critique · reasoning · logic · deliberation · discernment
Rejection of deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
- nonbeliefLack of religious faith
apostasy · deism · humanism · rationalist · infidel · heresy · godlessness · disbelief
Bogus methodology posing as factual
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- hoaxesIntentional public deceptions
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
quackery · snake-oil · charlatan · fraud · fact-checking · exposé · disproven · claims
Absence of confidence
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- jadedDulled by overindulgence
- world-wearyFatigued by existence
misanthropic · dismissive · scornful · distrustful · negativity · defeatism · fatalism · hopelessness
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
wariness · reservation · ambivalence · tentativeness · qualms · incredulity · distrust · leery · apprehension · caution
empiricism
Knowledge through observation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- CartesianOf x-y coordinate geometry
foundationalism · justification · certitude · epistemic · methodological · solipsism · phenomenology · relativism
falsifiability
Susceptibility to disproof
- evidence-basedSupported by verified data
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
scrutiny
Close, careful examination
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
questioning · inquiry · investigation · assessment · critique · reasoning · logic · deliberation · discernment · rigor
atheism
Rejection of deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
nonbelief · apostasy · deism · humanism · rationalist · infidel · heresy · godlessness · disbelief · anticlericalism
pseudoscience
Bogus methodology posing as factual
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- hoaxesIntentional public deceptions
misinformation · quackery · snake-oil · charlatan · fraud · fact-checking · exposé · disproven · claims · credulity
distrust
Absence of confidence
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- jadedDulled by overindulgence
world-weary · misanthropic · dismissive · scornful · distrustful · negativity · defeatism · fatalism · hopelessness · bitter
- freethoughtfreethought, free thought, free inquiry, rationality, critical thinking
- doubtdoubt, doubts, doubting, doubtful, mistrust
- disbeliefdisbelief, no way, incredulity, unbelievable, yeah right
- distrustmistrust, suspicion, doubt, wariness, disbelief
- critical thinkingcritical thinking, reasoning, logic puzzles, analysis, inference
- philosophiesempiricism, stoicism, nihilism, idealism, materialism
skepticismcredulity
Uncritical acceptance of claims
gullibility · belief · certainty · conviction · certitude
skepticismcredulity
Uncritical acceptance of claims
gullibility · trustfulness · faith · naivety · blind trust
skepticismfaith
Trust without proof
belief · piety · devoutness · religiosity · spirituality
- climate skepticismDoubt about atmospheric science
- scientific skepticismEvidence-demanding epistemological stance