Category:Skeptic

Skep"tic, n. Etym: [gr. skeptiko`s thoughtful, reflective, fr. Ske`ptesqai to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. Scepticus, f. sceptique. See scope.] [written also sceptic.]

1. One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is looking or Inquiring for what is true; an inquirer after facts or reasons.

2. (metaph.)

Defn: a doubter as to whether any fact or truth can be certainly Known; a universal doubter; a pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, Occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be Established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, In opposition to a dogmatist. All this criticism [of hume] proceeds upon the erroneous hypothesis That he was a dogmatist. He was a skeptic; that is, he accepted the Principles asserted by the prevailing dogmatism: and only showed that Such and such conclusions were, on these principles, inevitable. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (theol.)

Defn: a person who doubts the existence and perfections of god, or The truth of revelation; one who disbelieves the divine origin of the Christian religion. Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the sophistries of skeptics. S. Clarke.

Note: this word and its derivatives are often written with c instead Of k in the first syllable, -- sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c Its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has Been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; Yet the prevalent practice among english writers and printers is in Favor of the other mode. In the united states this practice is Reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons Preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology And analogy.

Syn. -- infidel; unbeliever; doubter. -- see infidel.

Skeptic; skeptical Skep"tic, skep"tic*al, a. Etym: [written also sceptic, sceptical.]

1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by Skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or Principles; doubting of everything.

2. (theol.)

Defn: doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred Scriptures. The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals. R. Hall. -- skep"tac*al*ly, adv. -- skep"tic*al*ness, n.