Articles about skepticism related topics with specific emphasis on their European aspects.

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Skepticism in the Time of Coronavirus

What are skeptics doing during the outbreak.

Dear skeptical friends,

in accordance with the advisements of the World Health Organization (though we still disagree on CAM issues) and national officials, skeptical organisations across Europe are temporarily closing their doors.

However, please do check out your local organisation’s website – there is enough content to hold you over for at least a month.

If you are interested in knowing updates concerning the virus, check the following websites and remember, WASH YOUR HANDS:

World Health Organization

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University

Author: Claire Klingenberg
Date: 11th March 2020

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The Joy of Skepticism – 18th European Skeptics Congress

Dear skeptical colleagues and friends,

it’s that time again – two years have passed and another congress is coming up!

August 30th – September 1st, Ghent, Belgium
Every other year skeptics from all over Europe come together to meet at the European Skeptics Congress. They listen to talks about a variety of subjects, participate in debates, exchange experiences with colleagues from abroad while having a great time together. This year we are meeting in Ghent, one of the great historical cities of Belgium, home to one of its main universities, with a pre-program ‘Skeptics in the Pub’ event in the center of Brussels. Come and join us for 3-4 days of fun and learning with Edzard Ernst and Kavin Senapathy, and don’t forget to sample Belgium’s fine beers and chocolates while you’re here. All information on www.esc2019.be

Register on our website. Special discounts for members of skeptical organisations and students.

Join the banquet on Saturday night in the company of the finest selection of skeptics in Europe (separate ticket).
Website: https://www.esc2019.be/Mail: esc2019@skepp.beFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/europeanskepticscon/

Author: Claire Klingenberg
Date: 24th July 2019

Skepticism Reloaded

Amardeo Sarma

42 years have passed since the birth of CSICOP, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, and its magazine Skeptical Inquirer. Soon after, there was a global wave in the spread of skepticism. A great visionary was at the centre of the explosion: Paul Kurtz, who saw skepticism as a global worldwide endeavour. The Australian Skeptics took off in 1980 with Mark Plummer as president. A decade later, in the mid-80s, CSICOP encouraged skeptics all over the world to form their groups. Mark Plummer, then Executive Director of CSICOP, and Wendy Grossman, founder of the magazine The Skeptic in the United Kingdom, toured Europe in this mission resulting in many new groups.

Paul Kurtz also defined skepticism as he saw fit for the movement in his book the New Skepticism. This variant is what we would now call scientific skepticism. It is distinct from the ancient Greek variety of skepticism that denied that we could acquire knowledge and wanted us not to take a stand, to suspend judgment.

Skeptics today do take a stand. They insist on skeptical inquiry, which is at the core of scientific research, as a fundamental and indisposable tool. At the same time, they also acknowledge that the body of science represents reliable knowledge of a real world. More importantly, they stand up and advocate what we know about science and pseudoscience, even when others including friends and colleagues frown on us. Skeptics today are committed to scientific realism.

Initially, the movement focused mainly on fringe science claims ignored by the scientific establishment. A decade ago, Kendrick Frazier, editor of the journal Skeptical Inquirer extended the scope. In the book “Science under Siege: Defending Science, Exposing Pseudoscience”, he put the defence of science itself on the map. Publications and events organised by skeptics had been increasingly taking up anthropogenic global warming, GMOs and the anti-vaccination movement. Conspiracy theories are a recent addition.

With the 21st century of “alternative facts” well underway, new questions have come up.

But the time is ripe for a revitalising vision for the future. In this connection, Marco Kovic has posed questions in a recent blog. Which are issues we need to address?

We do need to begin by framing our cause and our identity as skeptics worldwide. Let us start from the very core.

Continue reading “Skepticism Reloaded”

Author: Amardeo Sarma
Date: 6th March 2018