What are the benefits of skepticism?
Skepticism is simply an approach to things. The central idea is to search
for truth. This is not limited to psychic phenomena or supernatural claims:
it extends to all areas of life.
We are bombarded with advertising hyperbole, the latest business theories,
diet fads, claims for extraordinary products from magnetised water to debt-busting
consolidation loans, get rich quick schemes, etcetera and we need a way to sort
out what is real and beneficial from what is not.
Skepticism is the approach that helps us get through this quagmire and save
us time, money and credibility in the process.
The benefits of skepticism:
- It is intellectually rewarding.
Increasing one's awareness of reality by actively attaining knowledge is intellectually
satisfying. To gain a real understanding of how things are is more
rewarding than blindly accepting dogmas, or having a tendency to believe anything.
Skepticism is about attaining knowledge; accepting claims without question
is a passive, non-thinking approach.
- It establishes personal control.
Skeptics live in a world free from superstition and mysticism. Many people
who believe in the likes of Astrology or fortune telling think that their
lives are ruled by fate, and as such, they have little control over their
own destiny. By freeing ourselves from this notion we gain control of our
own lives and we understand that we have power over our own destiny. By making
good lifestyle choices and informed, rational decisions, we can influence
our lives for the better.
- It is a barrier against manipulation.
There are many ways in which people are out to deceive us: scams; fraud; propaganda;
advertising; etc. By thinking in a critical manner about claims that are presented
to us, we have a far greater chance of avoiding those that are of no benefit
to us.
Understanding the nature of scams, frauds, misinformation, advertising and
persuasion techniques, puts us in control of those who are out to take advantage
of us: whether legally or illegally.
- It improves decision making.
The skeptical approach can be used in any environment. Good decisions are
made by: understanding the purpose for the decision; examining the alternatives,
as many as possible; evaluating the alternatives and understanding their consequences;
choosing the answer that is correct for the problem in hand.
This process, which could be a company director deciding on an advertising
campaign or a couple deciding which mortgage to choose, will lead to consistently
better decisions being made than by making them based on advertisers' claims
or gut instinct.
- It brings monetary benefits.
Learning the true cost of the modern accepted norm of living in debt; learning
how to evaluate both loan and general financial agreements when they are appropriate;
understanding the real effect of paying interest on purchases; understanding
what a difference between living in debt and living debt-free can make to
financial well-being with exactly the same salary.
These are just some examples of where understanding finance can make a large
difference to a person's real spending power and wealth.
- It helps us to comprehend health issues.
Skepticism does not make people healthier, but it will help them to make good decisions about health matters. By learning more about health issues, we can make rational, informed choices about such things as: diets; supplements;
alternative remedies; etcetera.
Skepticism, as a way of thinking and gaining knowledge, helps us to make rational
choices in life as well as being an intellectually stimulating experience along
the way.
Skepticism is personal empowerment.
