Shadow of a Doubt - 1998 06

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: June, 1998
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Newsletter/Calendar

Spring Cookout

The newsletter announces the final event of the 1997-98 season for NCAS: a Spring Cookout hosted by Grace and Chip Denman at their home in Silver Spring, Maryland. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 1998, starting at 2:00 PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring food to share, with the hosts providing a grill and heat. The cookout is an opportunity for informal discussion on skeptical, credulous, or other topics. An RSVP is requested by June 17 to help the Denmans get a headcount. The Skeptics Line at 301-587-3827 can be called for further information and directions. The event is open to both members and non-members with no admission charge.

Summer Break and Future Meetings

Following the cookout on June 20th, NCAS will take a summer break from formal meetings. Members are encouraged to send email to [email protected] if they come across any interesting events. The newsletter provides the schedule for the upcoming 1998-1999 meeting season, which will resume on September 19th. All meetings will be held at the Bethesda Branch of the Montgomery County Library, located at 7400 Arlington Road, which is a short walk from the Bethesda Metro station. The scheduled meeting dates are:

• September 19
• October 17
• November 14
• December 19
• January 16, 1999
• February 20
• March 13
• April 17
• May 15
• June 19

What is Skepticism?

The issue includes a section prompting readers to consider the role and necessity of skepticism in the modern world. It draws information from CSICOP to explore the definition and history of skepticism. Skepticism is described as an ancient philosophical and scientific outlook with roots in Greece and Rome, championed by figures like Sextus Empiricus, Pyrrho, and Carneades. It experienced a decline in Christian Europe but was revived in the modern period by thinkers such as Bayle, Descartes, Montaigne, and Hume. This revival is credited with fostering the scientific revolution by liberating thought from unquestioned authority, faith, custom, revelation, and mysticism, and promoting inductive evidence and deductive reasoning.

The text distinguishes between three types of skepticism:

1. Extreme Skepticism: A negative and nihilistic form that holds no knowledge is possible. This is deemed unreliable as it prevents functioning in the world.
2. Mitigated Skepticism: Developed in ancient times and refined by David Hume, this approach recognizes the need to act and form beliefs about the world while acknowledging underlying doubts about the absolute reliability of knowledge.
3. Constructive Skepticism: Emerging in the early 20th century, championed by Charles Peirce and American pragmatists. This form views skeptical doubt as a temporary phase within a process of inquiry, to be overcome by testing hypotheses with adequate evidence and reasoning. It is positive, constructive, and context-specific, acknowledging that scientific formulations may evolve. This is identified as the guiding principle of the modern skeptical movement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter's stance is clearly pro-skepticism, promoting critical thinking and rational inquiry. The focus on defining and tracing the history of skepticism suggests an educational aim for its members. The publication serves as a calendar and informational resource for the National Capital Area Skeptics, encouraging active participation through social events like the cookout and providing a structured schedule for their monthly meetings. The editorial tone is informative and community-oriented.