On The Merits of Scepticism

For many, scepticism has undesirable connotations. To be a sceptic is to be negatively focused, unsupportive and a non-team player. But does our bias against scepticism blinds us to manipulation, coercion and the dangers of groupthink?

Is scepticism a valued attribute of thinking in today’s society? Are sceptics valued or reviled? It’s certainly valuable to have healthy dose of scepticism, but maybe those social groups to which we belong would prefer if we’d get in line and be quiet. Maybe we ostracise ourselves and bring unwanted attention upon us when we question authority. Maybe it’s best to adopt the role we have been assigned and accept things as they are. Or is it our responsibility to be a dissenting voice? In today’s article, we will examine the phenomenon of groupthink and the social imperative of scepticism. Although being a sceptic might bring us criticism and isolation from our peers, given the alternative, perhaps we have little choice if we are to survive the challenges we now face.

Scepticism is a dirty word for many people. To be sceptical sets you outside the fold, apart from the safety of the group. If you exercise a sceptical mind, you are a troublemaker, a disruptive force. And so more often than not, the force of groupthink and the desire for social acceptance, encourages us to keep our opinions to ourselves. Groupthink exists on both sides of an apparent dilemma, each side equally vehement in their views and immune to the benefits of critical thinking.

Consider the Covid-19 mask-wearing debate that rages on and offline. Both sides are single minded, tightly knit, cohesive, certain that they are right, and opposed to the views of the opposition. Neither side, it seems, will entertain any scepticism or information that may refute their views.

Irving L. Janis coined the term Groupthink in his study Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes (1972) [1]. His research examined the psychological phenomenon where people adopt the consensus of a group often without question, and although the term referred to small tightly…

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