Dr. Steven Novella
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
You're thinking about your thinking process.
You have some way of evaluating evidence.
You don't just believe things or go with the flow.
And this is a lifelong journey.
Is that the opposite of being gullible?
It's the opposite of being gullible.
Absolutely.
That's the best way to put it.
Some people think of it as cynical or denying the mainstream, whatever that happens to be.
But no, it's just the opposite of being gullible.
You kick the tires.
You look under the hood.
You don't come to a conclusion unless you think it's justified by the evidence.
You apportion your belief to logic and evidence.
That's being a skeptic.
So generally speaking, people are born curious, very interested in things, but analytical thinking is a learned skill.
So no, you're not born a skeptic.
That's like saying, are you born a scientist?
That's something you have to learn.
It is a muscle you have to exercise.