Skepticism: I Doubt It

[DISCLAIMER]

When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I’ve appealed to principles of skepticism (an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object). For instance, I stated in Encouragement of Doubtfulness:

[A]s I practice REBT in my personal and professional life, I’m able to remain honest with myself and clients about doubts, reservations, and objections to aspects of REBT theory and practice. […]

Encouragement of doubtfulness promotes growth and I’m pleased to continue growing in my own life while also witnessing growth in the lives of the clients with whom I work.

For example of how I use skepticism, imagine I told you that I once owned a Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM II rifle (M14; chambered for .308 Winchester). Hearing this, you reply, “That’s an assault rifle!” I then respond, “I doubt it.” My response is an expression of skepticism.

For context, one source states that the following “are not assault rifles according to the U.S. Army’s definition. For example: Select-fire rifles such as the FN FAL, M14, and H&K G3 main battle rifles are not assault rifles; they fire full-powered rifle cartridges.”

I argue that it can be good or healthy to express skepticism when voicing doubt (to call into question the truth of: to be uncertain or in doubt about something). Regarding this topic, the American Psychological Association thusly defines skepticism:

[I]n philosophy, the position that certainty in knowledge can never be achieved. David Hume made skepticism a cornerstone of his system and provoked much later discussion when he taught that sensory experience provides no sure basis for knowledge of the external world and that nothing can be proved by observation.

Causation, for example, is only an inference that relates two observed events, and one has no knowledge that this relationship will apply in similar cases; it is a generalization that could be proved wrong by a different result. In modern philosophy, postmodernism, poststructuralism, and deconstruction are essentially systems of skepticism.

Now, suppose you held a belief about my SOCOM II rifle that was based on your subjective morals (of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior). “Fine,” you demand, “it’s not technically an ‘assault rifle,’ but civilians absolutely shouldn’t own that sort of weapon!”

Of this, I stated in The Is-Ought Problem, “Hume cautioned that ‘reason alone can never be a motive to any action of the will’ and that by itself it can never oppose a passion in the direction of the will.’ We simply cannot use moralistic reasoning to impose our will upon others.”

In response to your moralizing belief about a .308 rifle, I voice skepticism by replying, “I doubt it, because I maintain that is was the right decision to have made. Besides, it was legal for me to have purchased a SOCOM II rifle.” Of this position, one source adds:

Some theorists distinguish between a good or healthy form of moderate skepticism in contrast to a bad or unhealthy form of radical skepticism. On this view, the “good” skeptic is a critically minded person who seeks strong evidence before accepting a position. The “bad” skeptic, on the other hand, wants to “suspend judgment indefinitely… even in the face of demonstrable truth”.

Even as you and I may disagree about firearms ownership on a moral basis, I consider it a form of good or healthy skepticism to examine evidence which supports or rejects a claim. However, I don’t practice a form of bad or unhealthy skepticism which absolutely suspends judgment.

Likewise, I don’t apply a standard of radical skepticism to most matters. One exception regards religiosity, about which I remain skeptically agnostic (a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality, such as a supreme being, is unknown and probably unknowable).

In any event, I advocate moderate (i.e., good, healthy, etc.) use of skepticism, with understanding that this is an altogether subjective matter. Personally, I think it’s a good thing that I was able to have purchased a SOCOM II rifle. Yet, you may healthily respond, “I doubt it.”

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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