Skeptical Attitude Research Articles

Is science skepticism really about science?

Abstract Despite the recent rise in public and academic concern, science skepticism remains ill-defined. This paper sets out to further our understanding of science skepticism and to inform both academic research and policymaking. Departing from a review of the academic literature on conceptualizations of science skepticism, we employ Eurobarometer 2021 data to explore the characteristics of people holding skeptical attitudes concerning climate change and evolution. Replicating prior findings, we observe minor variations across sociodemographic characteristics. Moreover, science skepticism relates to general science attitudes in a nonuniform manner within and across issues, and interest in and engagement with science are nonuniformly related to skepticism. Furthermore, science skepticism is inconsistent in its relationship to both attitudes and relationships with science across contexts. Based on the heterogeneous nature of skepticism(s), we argue that research and policy should be careful in approaching science skepticism as a general negative predisposition toward science.

Implementasi Deteksi Objek Real-Time Sebagai Media Edukasi dengan Algoritma YOLOv8 pada Objek Sampah

Waste is one of the complex global issues and is one of the points of the SDGs indicators related to municipal waste, food waste, hazardous waste and recycling systems that cannot be resolved. According to data from SIPSN in 2022, waste generation in Indonesia will reach 35,289,535.55 tons/year while about 47.32% of waste handling is done, which is 16,697,790.76 tons/year. The National Research and Innovation Agency said that currently there are still few Indonesians who have the awareness to start sorting waste from their own homes. As many as 80% of Indonesians do not sort their waste. To overcome these problems, everyone needs to make changes early on by making waste management a habit so as to change people's skeptical attitude towards waste management. Thus, research was conducted to identify the type of waste using the YOLOv8 algorithm, with a dataset of 17,617 data which was then analyzed by creating a yolov8 model. The best accuracy results were obtained by using the yolov8l variant as well as 16 batch sizes and the SGD optimizer with a learning rate value of 0.001 as a parameter. The model training process was then evaluated using confusion matrix with a percentage reaching 86.5%.

Lines of antagonism in the scientific community and the aggravating youth factor

The work is devoted to the analysis of key attitudes within the scientific community, on which, as expected, the image of the scientific and technological future of Russia directly depends. It has been established that the civilizational self-identification of researchers largely does not coincide with the sentiments of the general public. A cautious and often skeptical attitude towards the mobilization of science, increased emigration sentiments among scientists, primarily young ones, allowed the authors to conclude that the country’s scientific community is in crisis, antagonistically divided by contradictions regarding basic value orientations and management issues. The unifying factor is the need for comfortable working conditions and the demand for science by the state and society. It was quantitatively determined that only half of the researchers adhere to pro-state sentiments and could potentially be usefully involved in solving scientific and technical problems. The other half of the scientific community becomes at least a group of opponents who have doubts or are undecided regarding the scientific and technological course. The youth wing of science, as it turns out, is largely imbued with cosmopolitanism and therefore does not represent an anti-crisis force. Strengthening the mobilization readiness of the scientific community and resolving its internal conflicts is considered from the point of view of improving the quality of science management, including effective personnel policies.

Commonsense morality and the bearable automaticity of being

Some research suggests that moral behavior can be strongly influenced by trivial features of the environment of which we are completely unaware. Philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists have argued that these findings undermine our commonsense notions of agency and responsibility, both of which emphasize the role of practical reasoning and conscious deliberation in action. We present the results of four vignette-based studies (N=1,437) designed to investigate how people think about the metaphysical and moral implications of scientific findings that reveal our susceptibility to automaticity and situational influences. When presented with lightly fictionalized narratives about these findings, participants exhibit no tendency toward changing judgments of freedom and responsibility compared to control groups. This suggests that people seem unwilling to adopt skeptical attitudes about agency on the basis of these scientific findings.

Foucault’s Hegel Thesis: The “Tragic Destiny” of Life and the “Being-There” of Consciousness

In this paper, I offer an intellectual-historical reading of Foucault’s unpublished master’s thesis. In contrast with other recent scholarship on the pre-1961 period of Foucault’s career, the purpose of this paper is to grapple with the philosophical content of this thesis on its own terms, distinguishing it as far as possible from his mature work. This allows forgotten concepts to re-emerge in the course of reading the text and for a novel engagement with such neglected facets of Foucault’s oeuvre. Indeed, the key concept which I argue emerges from Foucault’s early thesis is that of language as the être-la of thought. By closely following Foucault’s Husserlian reading of Hegel, and his response to Eugen Fink’s paradoxes of phenomenology, it is possible to see how Foucault briefly lands upon a novel kind of scepticism about the reality of history and minds. In the same way, I will also show why Foucault was unable to fully develop or commit to these sceptical positions during this part of his career. The article concludes by briefly suggesting contrasts between my reading of this early text and the way Foucault’s oeuvre is more generally understood.

A prolegomena to investigating conspiracy theories

ABSTRACT Central to the particularist project, one that has become the consensus in the philosophy of conspiracy theory theory, is the claim that a general dismissal of these things called `conspiracy theories' is unsustainable. That is, if we want to say a conspiracy theory is suspicious such that we should not believe it, then we have to engage in at least some investigation of it. Particularists have detailed just why a general attitude of skepticism towards conspiracy theories is implausible; they have, in effect, created the case against generalism. The case for particularism, then, has largely been about challenging and rebutting generalist arguments. But what of the bigger picture? If particularists argue that we should not assume conspiracy theories are mad, bad, or dangerous but, rather, investigate them, then how should we go about that investigation? In this paper I describe (some) of the preliminary concerns the particularist (and the generalist) needs to account for when developing an ethics of investigation into these things called `conspiracy theories.' Whilst this paper does not provide a framework for the investigation of conspiracy theories, it provides the framework for such a framework.

What Happened to Intellectual Curiosity?

Anthropogenic Climate Change (ACC) is a contentious subject with two camps: the warmists and the skeptics. The warmists claim a 97% consensus among the world’s scientists. Climatologist, Dr. Roy Spencer postulated that the so-called 97% consensus was not comprised of scientists who did an independent examination of the data but were merely not disputing the hypothesis. This paper examined the extent to which there was acceptance of the ACC hypothesis in the academic community and whether the skeptic position was acknowledged. The study found that the ACC hypothesis was overwhelmingly accepted with very little acknowledgement of the skeptic position.

Revisiting the relationship between traditional East Asian medicine and biomedicine: Incorporating the Western into the Eastern

IntroductionWhether traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) is compatible with biomedicine remains controversial, with biomedicine research failing to explain key TEAM concepts. This article hypothesizes that reconciliation could be effective if biomedicine assumed that it examines a limited portion of reality, whereas Eastern medicine aims to conceptualize reality in its entirety. Re-discovering elements of Western thought that allow epistemological expansion, such as the notion of a non-material aspect inherent to all phenomena, and its implications for research methodology, can encourage biomedical research to reflect on TEAM. ApproachThe article reviews sources from the Western and Eastern medical literature to explore the above hypothesis. DiscussionThe concept of Qi (氣), inherent in TEAM's interpretive framework, lays the foundations for theoretical compatibility and a practical integrative approach. In TEAM, Qi is the basic fabric from which all things are made; however, holding that all things have a non-material aspect is also deeply rooted in the European religious and philosophical tradition. This article proposes that biomedicine detects the denser part of the Qi spectrum conceived by TEAM. As an illness progresses, parts of Qi that make up the organism become increasingly separated, but biomedicine detects disharmony only when the magnitude reaches a certain level owing to its sensitivity range. ConclusionBoth TEAM and biomedicine consider the patient's complaint as an unquestionable reality that medicine can observe and aims to alleviate. TEAM assumes that traditions distilled over millennia require verification through evidence-based medicine to gain credibility in the West, which owes its success to its skeptical attitude. Meanwhile, biomedicine assumes that some mechanisms that influence health and healing may not be measurable by current biomedical devices. However, this does not mean that these mechanisms cannot be verified, albeit with an emphasis on patients’ subjective experiences. The theoretical compatibility of TEAM and biomedicine creates sufficient legitimacy for their co-existence, and research on their sequential, rather than alternative or complementary, use in healthcare is needed.

I Play, Therefore I Think: Procedural Philosophy in Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake 2 (2023)

Regarding video games as loci of philosophical thinking, not simply illustrations of preexisting philosophical concepts and positions, is far too rare in gamic thought studies. Yet due to the conceptually complex nature of the critically acclaimed Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment, 2023) such a perspective becomes necessary in order to fully understand the philosophical, gamic, and aesthetic complexity of the game. Subsequently, this article argues that the game performs what is termed “procedural philosophy” as it involves adapting a position of radical skepticism and questioning the essential ontological categories of both the gamic and the nongamic reality. As the analysis shows, Alan Wake 2 develops a philosophical conceptualization of reality which results in the formation of “obscure ideas,” related to a gamic flattening of ontology.

Persepsi Auditor Eksternal Atas Pengaruh Kemudahan dan Kegunaan Artificial Intelligence Terhadap Kualitas Audit

This study aims to investigate external auditors' perception of the impact of artificial intelligence's ease of use and usefulness on audit quality, while also examining the potential scepticism among external auditors towards the integration of artificial intelligence in the audit process. A quantitative approach is utilized to analyze the relationship between the variables. The research was conducted through questionnaires distributed via telegram and WhatsApp groups, email, and collaboration with IAPI. One hundred and eight valid responses were gathered from external auditors of Big Four KAP, internationally affiliated KAP - non big four, and national KAP. Findings reveal that external auditors do not exhibit a sceptical attitude towards the usage of artificial intelligence in the audit process. The test results demonstrate that external auditors' perceptions of the ease of using artificial intelligence aids in enhancing audit quality. Similarly, gauging external auditors' perceived usefulness or benefits of artificial intelligence can also lead to improved audit quality. This study's sample is limited to external auditors of financial statements at public accounting firms, and therefore the findings should not be extended to other types of auditors such as government or internal auditors. This study offers external auditors a thorough comprehension of how artificial intelligence contributes to the audit process to improve audit quality. The necessity for external auditors to improve their technical skills arises due to the increased utilization of big data by businesses. Hence, universities must provide graduates with competence in not only accounting and auditing but also the latest technology.

Population Dynamics in Digital Communication Transformation: Kajang Community in Bulukumba Regency

In the rapid digital transformation, the urgency of understanding the population dynamics of the Kajang community in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, has become increasingly important. Kajang is a unique example of a community that maintains its cultural traditions while interacting with modernity, highlighting the complexity between cultural values and technology adoption. This research aims to fill gaps in knowledge about how the population dynamics of the Kajang community interact with digital communication transformation, as well as how cultural values are maintained. This research used qualitative methods, such as the Nvivo 12 Plus analysis tool, to organize, analyze, and explore qualitative data from interviews, documentation, and observations. The findings of this research indicate that technology adoption patterns among the Kajang community are influenced by the balance between traditional values and modernity, with factors such as technology accessibility, cultural values, and the influence of the social environment playing an important role in determining adoption rates. Kajang Luar tends to adopt technology more quickly than Kajang Dalam, reflecting the complexity of cultural dynamics and the influence of the social environment on technology adoption patterns within the community. Despite adjustments to the use of technology, especially in dealing with educational needs and emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kajang community still maintains their commitment to traditional values by not using it openly within their customary area, which reflects a skeptical attitude towards the use of technology communication, which could disrupt the balance of nature or threaten their cultural heritage.

Engaging the later Rawls on legitimacy

Frank Michelman’s recent book Constitutional Essentials. On the Constitutional Theory of Political Liberalism is discussed from a specific angle, related to how Rawls’s ‘deflection procedure’ – called by Michelman ‘justification by constitution’ – is affected by two recent innovations in the paradigm of political liberalism: first, the extension of reasonable pluralism to a family of liberal political conceptions of justice that coexist in a liberal-democratic society; second, the idea of legitimation based on the criterion of reciprocity, aimed at supplementing the liberal principle of legitimacy. In the attempt to probe Michelman’s assessment of the impact of these two innovations, three critical points are mentioned, for each of them, that suggest a somewhat more sceptical attitude than Michelman’s about the capacity of ‘justification by constitution’ to remain substantially unaltered, once these innovations are in place.

Lutherans and vampires, medicine and faith: an early dissertation on the bloodsucking at Medvedia (1732)

ABSTRACT One of the earliest refutations of the Visum et Repertum (1732) by Johann Flückinger was from Johann Wilhelm Nöbling, a young student of philosophy and theology at the University of Jena, who attacked the findings from a position of scientific scepticism enshrouded with Lutheran theology in his thesis Concerning the Blood-Sucking Corpses of those so-called Vampires or People-Suckers. While he is best remembered for first proposing the incubus or nightmare of sleep paralysis as being the real cause of the superstition, his major contribution was theological, concerning the relation between body and soul. And yet while Nöbling provides a rigorous, scripture-based denial of vampirism, his framework necessarily accommodates contemporary medical theory, demonstrating both the adaptation of theology to science and the extent to which pneumatology still inhered in scientific enquiry.

Pros And Cons Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Technology By Local Guide In Dusun Adat Sade Rembitan Village In Central Lombok - NTB - Indonesia

Technology is rapidly advancing today, with the most popular technology known as Artificial Intelligence (AI). This technological innovation greatly benefits the tourism sector. However, the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology often sparks debate, including in the tourism industry. This study aims to identify the pros and cons related to the presence and use of AI technology by local guides at tourist sites that still maintain the authenticity of culture, such as in the Dusun Adat Sade, Rambitan Village, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The research was conducted using an inductive approach, with a qualitative methodology, a case study research strategy, and a cross-sectional research time frame. Data collection and analysis were performed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Data analysis utilized content analysis, categorizing data into specific themes or categories. Triangulation of methods and sources was employed for data validity. Methodological triangulation involved three methods: observation, interviews, and documentation. Additionally, source triangulation was conducted by interviewing 8 informants. The research findings categorized data into the following: Pros and Contras regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. After analyzing and processing the data from both categories, the majority of local guides in the Sade Traditional Village, Rembitan Village, exhibit a predominantly contra or skeptical attitude towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology due to concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) taking over their jobs. However, they still acknowledge technological advancements that facilitate their service to tourists. To further assess the extent to which Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology assists local guides, especially at tourist sites, further research on the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for supporting and facilitating local guides in their work is needed

Два года СВО: динамика изменения отношения молодежи

The article presents results of a study of young people’s attitude towards the Special Military Operation (hereinafter – the SMO). Data from monthly measurements carried out from March 2022 to January 2024 by Levada Center (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia), as well as the results of two online surveys (n = 2872) and a series of focus group interviews of young people (n = 74) conducted in November 2022 and November 2023 by employees of the Department of Political Science of Saratov State University are analyzed. It turned out that young people assess what is happening more moderately than society as a whole. At the same time, the majority of young people still support the SMO itself, but the level of this support is significantly lower than that of representatives of older ages. The degree of approval of decisions to carry out partial mobilization and to include four new regions in Russia turned out to be below 50%. Regarding the preferred options for continuing the conflict, there are more young people who are in favor of starting peace negotiations with Ukraine. Possible reasons for more skeptical attitude of young people towards the SMO are formulated, i.e. age features of representatives of this social group; specificity of the conditions in which their political socialization took place (ideological vacuum at a certain stage was filled with Western values, some of which do not correspond to the national culture, traditions and mentality of Russians); features of media consumption by modern youth and imperfections in information support for the SMO by media resources loyal to the state government. One of the ways to improve the current situation is substantiated.

Turning Point: Green Industrial Policy and the Future of U.S. Climate Action

In the first two years of the Biden presidency, Congress passed three massive funding bills, which poured hundreds of billions of dollars into clean energy infrastructure, research and development, and deployment of clean energy. Although these bills are not what lawyers are accustomed to thinking of as “environmental law,” they have the potential to launch a transformation of the energy sector. This development could not have come at a better time, given the Supreme Court’s increasingly skeptical attitude toward federal regulation. Although the direct effect of these laws will be dramatic, this Article focuses on positive feedback loops that will amplify those direct effects. These feedback loops operate via impacts on innovation, regulation, and politics, all of which lead to expanded use of clean energy at the expense of fossil fuels. In turn, these impacts expand the production and use of clean energy, closing the feedback loops. Taking full advantage of these dynamics will require a more coordinated government effort, and this Article discusses a coordination method pioneered by some states.

Human Brain Organoid Transplantation: Testing the Foundations of Animal Research Ethics

Alongside in vitro studies, researchers are increasingly exploring the transplantation of human brain organoids (HBOs) into non-human animals to study brain development, disease, and repair. This paper focuses on ethical issues raised by such transplantation studies. In particular, it investigates the possibility that they might yield enhanced brain function in recipient animals (especially non-human primates), thereby fundamentally altering their moral status. I assess the critique, raised by major voices in the bioethics and science communities, according to which such concerns are premature and misleading. I identify the assumptions underlying this skeptical critique, and mention some objections against them, followed by some possible replies. I proceed to argue that the skeptical position is ultimately implausible, because it presupposes an unreasonably high standard of full moral status. My argument appeals to David DeGrazia’s idea of a “borderline person”, and to the need for consistency with existing animal research regulations. I outline the practical implications of my view for the conduct of studies that might result in the development of full moral status in a transplanted animal. I also discuss some of the ethical implications of animal enhancement (particularly of rodents) below the threshold associated with full moral status. I conclude that far from being premature, further debate on these issues is urgently needed to help clarify the prospects that a neural chimera might attain full moral status in the foreseeable future, and the level of quality of life required to make it acceptable to knowingly create such a being via HBO transplantation.

Is personal income associated with attitudes towards climate change risk? A moderated mediation analysis for the UK from 2009 to 2020

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of personal income on attitudes towards climate change risk, considering the mediator of responsibility attribution (RA) for climate change and the moderator of educational attainment. Using a latent growth curve model applied to data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study dataset from 2009 to 2020, this study indicated that personal income growth heightens the likelihood of expressing concern about climate change while reducing the propensity for holding sceptical or paradoxical attitudes over time. Attributing climate change to personal behaviour mediated the income‐attitude relationship. Significant differences in the mediation effect were observed between individuals who had received a university education and those who had not, even after controlling for covariates such as age, sex, political affiliation and employment status. These findings suggest that climate campaign emphasising RA can address attitude disparities across income and education strata, further promoting sustainable climate action and mitigation.

Consumer Cynicism in Influencer Marketing: An Impact Analysis on Purchase Intention and Brand Loyalty

Social media has become a significant platform that meets consumers' information, entertainment, and socialization needs in today's world. In this dynamic environment, consumer cynicism represents a sceptical and critical attitude developed towards brands and marketing messages. Influencer marketing involves the strategy of using social media influencers to promote businesses' products and services and is observed to have a significant impact on consumer cynicism. The study has shown that credible posts and influencer recommendations reduce consumer cynicism, thereby increasing brand loyalty and purchase intentions. Findings from a survey of 214 participants in Karabük, analyzed using structural equation modelling, indicate that the authenticity and realism of influencer content can enhance consumers' trust in businesses, significantly reducing consumer cynicism. This reduction leads to an increase in brand loyalty and purchase intentions. The research illuminates the interaction between influencer marketing strategies and consumer cynicism, emphasizing the potential of influencer marketing to mitigate consumer cynicism and its subsequent positive effects on brand loyalty and purchase behaviours. The findings of this study are particularly important in today's marketing understanding, where the importance of digital marketing strategies is increasing, and consumer scepticism is frequently observed. In this context, the research demonstrates the potential of the effective use of influencer marketing to create value for businesses and expand the consumer base, highlighting realism and trust as critical factors in influencer-business collaborations. Thus, the study provides awareness of how businesses can strategically use influencer marketing to impact consumer attitudes and decisions positively.

Conflicts in real-world labs ‐ Perspectives of critical and ambivalent residents on a temporary public space redesign project in Berlin

Real-world labs make the mobility transition tangible for residents. However, these experiences are not always positive, and often local conflicts arise. Based on in-depth interviews, the authors show that perceived procedural unfairness as well as the redistribution of space are the main drivers of a sceptical attitude towards redesign projects.Real-world labs (RwLs) are often used to explore and foster the mobility transition. Many RwLs dealing with mobility transition temporarily reallocate public spaces from motorized to active transport or to leisure activities. While some residents accept and enjoy the changes, others react with scepticism, rejection, or protest. This can lead to conflicts. Controversial perceptions and conflicts among residents make a permanent redesign rather challenging for the administration and the politicians. In this paper the authors investigate the related conflict types and counterarguments by studying the case of a temporary redesign of an intersection in Berlin. Based on in-depth interviews, they untangle procedural, distributional, and identity conflicts which might underlie the critical and ambivalent perceptions of residents. An abundance of conflict issues pertaining to procedural and distributional conflicts are revealed and emphasize the role of the RwL process.