The Problem with Scientism and the Nature of the Skeptic Community

We live in times of increased distrust of science, which has real consequences in terms of people’s quality of life and health, not to mention, potentially, in terms of the very future of the human ecosystem. So this is surely not a good time to criticize science itself, right? Well, the problem with critical thinking is that it is supposed to be applied universally, including to science itself. Instead, some well-known science popularizers, and even skeptics, act like uncritical cheerleaders, thus undermining that very confidence in science they so cherish and rightly encourage. Let’s talk about it, shall we?

About the Speaker:
Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. Massimo publishes a regular column in Philosophy Now entitled “The Art of Living.” His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press). He is the former host of the Rationally Speaking podcast, and is a frequent contributor to the Skeptical Inquirer. Massimo’s new book is Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers (with Greg Lopez and Meredith Kunz, The Experiment). More by Massimo at https://massimopigliucci.org and https://thephilosophygarden.substack.com