Skepticism

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/skepticism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Skepticism known for?Drives the scientific method and critical evaluation of knowledge claims
2. What is the philosophical domain?Epistemology
3. What is the core methodological stance?Suspension of judgment (epoché) in the absence of sufficient justification
4. Why do skeptics ask questions instead of just saying no?They want to make sure there is solid proof, not just guess or agree without checking. This helps keep ideas honest and reliable.
5. How does skepticism help science discover new things?In science, skepticism means testing ideas many times and looking for clear evidence. It stops wrong theories from being accepted and encourages new discoveries.

Dogma: A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
Epistemology: The branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge.
Epoché: The suspension of judgment, a central practice in ancient skepticism.