Comment by Alex3917

13 years ago

It's been a while since I've coined a new term on HN, but I think now is as appropriate a time as ever:

cargo cult skepticism.

edit: ~10 previous results on Google. :-/

Skepticism is also the wrong name for this ideology. Genuine skeptics would direct their doubt against the leading dogma of the age, whereas this ideology seeks to comfortably reinforce it. Historically, its true name – as I believe you pointed out here once – is positivism.

  • No, it's a fine name:

    cargo cult skepticism is to skepticism like cargo cult science is to science. (Which is to say: it isn't)