The Skeptics Society
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The Skeptics Society is a nonprofit, member-supported organization devoted to promoting scientific skepticism and resisting the spread of pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs. The Skeptics Society was originally founded as a Los Angeles-area skeptical group to replace the defunct Southern California Skeptics. After the success of its magazine, Skeptic , introduced in Spring 1992, it became a national, then international, organization.
Like CSICOP and the James Randi Educational Foundation, the Skeptics Society investigates extraordinary claims, such as extra sensory perception, Atlantis, 9/11 conspiracy theories, the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, creationism, pyramid power, etc. Unlike CSICOP, it does not limit itself to potentially pseudoscientific claims, but also investigates such controversies such as pseudohistory (as in the examples of Holocaust denial and extreme Afrocentrism), the use of misuse of theory and statistics, conspiracy theories, urban myths, witch hunts, mass hysterias, genius and intelligence, and cultural influences on science, as well as controversies involving protosciences at the leading edge of established science, and even fads like cryonics and low-carb diets.
Philosophy
With regard to such claims, the Skeptics Society adopts the view of the 17th Century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza:
- “I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.”
- ''“All our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike—and yet it is the most precious thing we have.”
Activities
The Skeptics Society activities include:
- Production of a quarterly journal, Skeptic magazine, of which Shermer is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief.
- Investigating and researching controversial claims.
- Sponsoring a monthly lecture series at the California Institute of Technology.
- Production and sale of audio and video tapes of the lectures.
- Maintaining a catalogue of books on science and skepticism discounted for members.
- Organizing an annual scientific conference centered around a particular theme.
- Conducting field trips for scientific research and education.
- Holding social events to promote good will among like-minded individuals
- Maintaining a speaker’s bureau for schools and organizations to access.
- Maintaining a telephone referral service for the public and the media to access information on controversial claims from a skeptical viewpoint.
- Maintaining a website on the World Wide Web.
The magazine also features a large correspondence section called "Forum", that includes not only letters from lay readers, but also in-depth comments and rebuttals from professionals for extended academic debate across issues from past editions. Bound into most issues is also a 10-page young readers section called Junior Skeptic, which focuses on one topic, or practical instruction that is written and illustrated in a style more appealing to children.
Other skeptic organizations
There are like-minded organizations in many other countries, including:
- The Australian Skeptics, who have published the similarly named The Skeptic journal since 1981 (which is in turn distinct from the also similar UK Skeptic).
Notes
External links
- [The Skeptics Society and Skeptic Magazine]
- [The Australian Skeptics]
- [The New Zealand skeptics organization, NZCSICOP]
- [The Italian skeptics organization, CICAP]
- [The UK "The Skeptic" magazine]
- [A UK skeptics organization]
- [The Danish skeptics organization]
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