#24 - Reclaiming Skepticism

Published: April 9, 2021, 10:42 a.m.

Watch out, debunkers, weirdos are on the march to reclaim the banner of skepticism! In this session, Dane sits down with Dr. Everett Fulmer, a professor of philosophy and expert on the history and philosophy of skepticism, to discuss what it REALLY means to be a skeptic. As Dr. Fulmer explains, traditionally, skeptics were profound thinkers who discovered  compelling reasons for doubting the very possibility of humans ever acquiring certain knowledge. These free spirits developed razor-sharp arguments that challenge the Enlightenment view of rationality as the one true path to objective truth, even to this day. Tracing the roots of skepticism to Plato's Academy and the struggle against the ancient Stoics, Dr. Fulmer outlines the personal stories and public beliefs of history's greatest skeptics – from a man with the unfortunate first name “Sextus,” to an Italian monk who was executed after publicizing warnings about the apocalypse. The second half of the show explores the risks and benefits of skepticism for lovers of the strange and unexplained: Is skepticism the key to tranquility? Can we doubt the material world's existence without getting run over by that truck in which we refuse to believe? Could it help UFOtwitter chill out? Or will skepticism plunge those who study it into madness? If you dabble with weird ideas and turn away from mushy thinking, then this session will be red meat for you. We think through the philosophy of universal doubt in an episode that could make you question not just whether you ever knew anything about skepticism, but whether you have ever known ANYTHING at all!