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The Burden of Skepticism Four Levels and Question Answers | Mero Solution

The Burden of Skepticism Four Levels and Question Answers

The Burden of Skepticism Four Levels and Question Answers

Four Levels of The Burden of Skepticism

                                     -Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
The essay 'The Burden of Skepticism' is written by Carl Sagan deals with doubtful nature of human beings. It examines whether we use skepticism in proper place and way or not.

The essayist defines skepticism as a process of applying reason and critical thinking to check the validity and authenticity of the matter. It is applied in everyday life. For example: if we want to buy a used car, we become skeptic and examine it minutely even if we lack much idea about cars or we may bring an experienced friend to have it examined. This is quite natural because if we buy it without proper inspection, we may have to bear loss.

We are skeptical in some areas but unfortunately not in others. For instance; we need to use skepticism in commercials and politics but we don't do so. As a result, we are easily cheated. If we are not skeptic in the case of medicine, it will have terrible consequence. In this sense, to be skeptic is good but sometimes we may tend to avoid skepticism in order to console ourselves. In the history of mankind, there is always a belief system which addresses real human needs such as unsatisfied medical needs, spiritual needs and needs for communion (act of sharing) with the rest of the human community. These are not addressed by our society. One example; we believe in channeling assuming that our soul does not die even after our physical death rather it re-enters the bodies of other human beings. Therefore it is possible to make contact with our loved ones who have died. But the writer does not like the idea of taking advantage of the vulnerabilities (weakness) of the bereaved.

It's usual that we may be tempted to easy access of the things but that is exactly where we need to be critical using skeptical scrutiny. should pose questions check the validity of the statements as even the extraterrestrials (aliens) cannot answer anything specific. They just respond to vague questions such as 'should we humans be good?' whereas at specific question where there is chance to find out if they actually know anything, they remain silent.

The French scientist Henri Poincare remarked on why credulity is rampant. It is because the truth is cruel and bitter. Also, skepticism challenges established institutions. If we teach high school students, the habit of being skeptical, they will apply it to commercials and channelers. They may question in economic, social, political and religious institutions. In this sense, skepticism is dangerous. But if we take the burden of skepticism, we can have the clear view of everything. However there must be balance between two conflicting modes of thoughts; skeptical scrutiny and openness to new ideas. If we are too much skeptic no new idea emerges and if we are gullible accepting all the ideas, we cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones and we do not search better ideas which is of prime importance in dealing with the world. Mixing two conflicting modes of thoughts is the crux of the science. Scientists make hypothesis, observe and draw conclusion but if their ideas turn out to be wrong or controversial they immediately change their mind and never repeat that idea. This should be applied in politics and religion as well but it is very rare case that a politician agrees with opponent's argument and changes his political stance. So is the case with religion. People often become dogmatic in religion.

2. INTERPRETATION :
This essay may be trying to tell us that we should be skeptic only in critical situation. If we do not become skeptic then we may have to beat the loss. Also we should not be skeptic in every areas. If we start doubting in all the areas then we will gain nothing. 

3.CRITICAL THINKING :
This essay is very impressive and practical . Although I have some question about this essay.
i) Is all time skepticism possible?
ii) Do all humans have ideas like scientists ?
iii)How can a human being live up to 3500 years of age?

4. ASSIMILATION :
After reading this story I decided to be Skeptic in critical situation but not in every situation. Skepticism is also dangerous. So I always try to use skepticism properly.
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Question Answers of The Burden of Skepticism

Q.1. What is skepticism ?

ANSWER : Basically skepticism is an expression of questioning or doubt can be applied to any topic such as politics, religion, or pseudoscience. It is often applied within restricted domains, such as morality (moral Skepticism), theism  (skepticism about the existence of God), or the supernatural.

In this essay, the essayist defines Skepticism as a process of applying reason and Critical thinking to check the validity and authenticity of the matter. It is applied in everyday life. It is an incredible tool that can help us to understand the world. It is a necessary tool to know the difference and change our wrong ideas adopting the correct ones. 

Q.2. In the essay "The Burden of Skepticism" by Carl Sagan says that we encounter skepticism every day.
i) What does he mean by skepticism?
ii) Do you agree that we encounter it every day?
iii) What example has he given to justify it?
iv) Can you give one more example to support him?

ANSWER : The essay , "The Burden of Skepticism" is written by 'Carl Sagan' deals with doubtful nature of human beings. It examines whether we use skepticism in proper place and way or not.

i) What does he mean by skepticism?
In this essay, the essayist defines Skepticism as a process of applying reason and Critical thinking to check the validity and authenticity of the matter. It is applied in everyday life. It is an incredible tool that can help us to understand the world. It is a necessary tool to know the difference and change our wrong ideas adopting the correct ones.   

ii) Do you agree that we encounter it every day?
Yes, I agree that we encounter skepticism everyday because we do not easily believe an anything even if we don't have knowledge on it. It is used in our daily life whether we apply it in right place or not. It is always necessary to pose questions to check the validity of the matter or things while we buying or choosing something. But sometimes we knowingly or unknowingly avoid skepticism and believe on fake advertisement and buy it without knowing the details or without questioning. But we can't ignore that we encounter Skepticism everyday.

iii) What example has he given to justify it?
Skepticism is applied in everyday life. He has given an example of used car to justify it. If we want to buy a used car, we become skeptic and examine it minutely even if we lack much ideas about the car or we may bring an experienced friend to have it examined. This is quite natura because if we we buy it without proper inspection , we may have to bear loss.

iv) Can you give one more example to support him?
Yes I can give one more example to support him. Last month I joined a company which returns us double of our investment in three months. I have invested 10000 on that platform.The company invests our investment to another sector and earns huge amount of profit.Some profit (double) it distributes to the investors.
While I heard about this company that it provides double return just in 3 months then I became skeptic and raise the question myself whether it is fake but I invest on it by taking risk. And while I share about it to my friends they also become skeptic and say that it may be fraud company and didn't invest on it.
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