skepticism

[skep-tuh-siz-uh m] /ˈskɛp təˌsɪz əm/
noun
1.
skeptical attitude or temper; doubt.
2.
doubt or unbelief with regard to a religion, especially Christianity.
3.
(initial capital letter) the doctrines or opinions of philosophical Skeptics; universal doubt.
Also, scepticism.
Origin
1640-50; < Neo-Latin scepticismus, equivalent to Latin sceptic(us) skeptic + -ismus -ism
Related forms
antiskepticism, noun
Synonyms
1. questioning, probing, testing. 2. disbelief, atheism, agnosticism.
Antonyms
2. faith.
Examples from the web for skepticism
  • Another scar of this skepticism is the distrust in human virtue.
  • Word of mouth has prompted skepticism as well as admiration.
  • But researchers who study the rare dolphin have expressed deep skepticism that such a dramatic turnaround could have occurred.
  • His skepticism may have led him into errors of his own.
  • There are good reasons for skepticism about such grand forecasts.
  • Mentions the public skepticism of money-minded preachers.
  • His idea was met with skepticism but he was impressed by the early results of his experiment.
  • Morandi's eye and mind lived in the surface, marooned there by honest, anxious skepticism.
  • skepticism of government's ability to improve people's lives runs deep.
  • The announcement generated both excitement and skepticism.
Word Origin and History for skepticism
n.

also scepticism, 1640s, from skeptic + -ism. Specifically regarding Christian religion, from 1800.

skepticism in Culture

skepticism definition


In philosophy, the position that what cannot be proved by reason should not be believed. One of the main tasks of epistemology is to find an answer to the charge of some extreme skeptics that no knowledge is possible.