Skeptics of the world, unite!

We all need to start thinking like scientists, by asking questions, seeking evidence, and evaluating information critically.

Of the many insane moments in the last four, pandemic-fuelled years, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Face the Nation interview in November 2021 is among the most ludicrous.

In it, the head of the country’s COVID response declared that anyone criticizing him is actually criticizing science because “I represent science.”

Let’s put aside for a second the fact that no single person can represent science. What also makes Fauci’s statement so audacious is that he regularly and vehemently shut down anyone who expressed the slightest skepticism of mainstream COVID narratives. Skepticism, however, is an essential element of science.

Instead of being the human embodiment of science, a large share of Americans will remember Anthony Fauci for his Kim Jong Un-like dogmatic rule, strict control over information, and suppression of dissent.

Why skepticism is essential to science

Skepticism is the flip side of dogma. In Greek, the original meaning of skeptikos was “an inquirer,” i.e., someone who was unsatisfied and still looking for truth.

Skepticism and science go hand in hand. The very essence of science is built on being skeptical. The habit of questioning, doubting, and scrutinizing is fundamental to the scientific method.

Some of the most profound breakthroughs in science came about because someone questioned established beliefs, challenged the so-called scientific consensus, and demanded evidence. But in an age where the lines have become increasingly blurred between what’s real and what’s bot-generated, we somehow seem to have lost our appetite for skepticism. If we had been more skeptical as a society when COVID washed up on our shores, perhaps we would have ended up in a different place.

While skepticism hasn’t completely disappeared, it does seem less prevalent or socially acceptable for some reason. Perhaps it’s because we’re bombarded with information from so many sources that our brains take shortcuts to figure out what's credible, leading some of us to become more accepting of information without being sufficiently questioning.

Maybe it’s because social media has made it too easy to craft our own echo chambers filled with people who think like us and information that aligns with our beliefs. This encourages confirmation bias and discourages skepticism and critical thinking. Alternative viewpoints are nearly non-existent in these echo chambers, and when they do crop up they can be easily dismissed, ignored, or blocked.

Social media has also effectively polarized us as a nation, amplifying extreme viewpoints and pitting one radical side against another in a ‘you’re either with us or against us’ binary. Expressing skepticism in such a milieu may create a strong backlash from those who disagree, and many people on social media wisely choose to keep their skeptical mouths shut rather than invite this kind of invective.

Learn to think like a scientist

Skepticism encourages asking questions, seeking evidence, and evaluating information critically. Constructive skepticism helps us avoid falling prey to misinformation and make more informed decisions.

With that in mind, we should all learn to think like scientists, meaning we should all apply the mindsets and methodologies of the scientific method to the problems, questions, and situations we encounter in our daily lives. That means:

1. Being curious: Scientists constantly ask questions about the world around them and seek to understand the underlying causes and principles of what they see.

2. Gathering data: Scientists rely on empirical evidence, which means they make observations and gather data from the real world to form conclusions, rather than relying on personal beliefs, opinions, or emotions.

3. Making educated guesses: Scientists start by formulating a hypothesis or making a prediction about how things work. They then test this hypothesis and remain open to the possibility that their theory is wrong.

4. Thinking critically: Scientists question their own assumptions and the validity of their data and conclusions. They are open to revising their hypotheses based on new evidence.

5. Avoiding groupthink: Scientists don't accept claims or explanations simply because of consensus. They continuously evaluate and re-evaluate ideas and theories in the light of evidence and new information.

As a parting thought, it is incumbent on all of us to avoid making those in ‘white coats’ a priesthood or untouchable class. They’re not. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that the presumed benefits of rational scientific technocracy around public health or governmental policy aren’t actually devoid of politics, ego, and agendas. So while those who practice the above five points are rightly labeled scientists, these paths are also accessible to you and me. That means, armed with an inquisitive outlook and a penchant for curiosity, you too can be a scientist.

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