Critical Thinking, Skeptics, Psychics, and Aliens

I have found that many people who would be called “skeptics” by the general public label themselves critical thinkers.  What do you think?  Is there a difference between a skeptic and a critical thinker?  Or is critical thinking the method by which skeptics disprove things like ghosts, psychics, astrology, alien encounters, religious beliefs, etc?

Listen to James Randi’s TED Talk on psychic fraud, irrational beliefs, and making assumptions, and weigh in- Are skeptics the best critical thinkers?

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breannepotter

Solutions Architect for Pearson TalentLens

One response to “Critical Thinking, Skeptics, Psychics, and Aliens”

  1. Matt Warren

    Randi’s talk is a great thing to link to when it comes to that question. Making the distinction is certainly worthwhile since the terms get conflated.

    In my meager estimation, critical thinkers are very concerned with the process by which they reach conclusions, while skeptics could appear to be defined by their conclusions first, and employ critical thinking techniques when it suits them.

    As I say, the terms get muddied. Perhaps they are better defined by their tone and/or honesty of approach.

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