A skeptic's beliefs and disbeliefs

Two kinds of skepticism are distinguished: systematic (or radical) and methodological (or moderate). It is argued that the former is logically impossible, whereas the latter is part of the scientific outlook. When beliefs in the supernatural and the paranormal are subjected to methodical doubt, they turn out to be not only lacking in empirical support but also at variance with certain scientific principles and with certain general philosophical presuppositions of scientific research. It is noted that, when scientists overlook these principles, they run the risk of consuming or even producing some non-scientific ideas. The cases of parapsychology and psychoanalysis are examined in some detail. Next ten other specimens of pseudoscience are briefly analyzed: general measurement theory, quantum theory of measurement, creationist cosmology, genetic instruction hypothesis, selfish gene hypothesis, human sociobiology, applied catastrophe theory, applied game theory, neoclassical microeconomics, and textualism. Finally some of the key tacit principles of the creed of the methodological skeptic are formulated: materialism (an extension of naturalism), realism, rationalism, empiricism, and systemism.