Skeptical Inquirer
Editor-in-chiefStephen Hupp
FrequencyBimonthly
Publisher
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Center for Inquiry

Founded1976 (1976)
CountryUnited States
Based inAmherst, New York
LanguageEnglish
Websiteskepticalinquirer.org
ISSN0194-6730

Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American general-audience magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) with the subtitle: The Magazine for Science and Reason.

Originally called The Zetetic, the magazine initially focused on investigating claims of the paranormal. As the organization and magazine evolved, it expanded to address other pseudoscientific topics that are antithetical to critical thinking and science.

Notable skeptics have credited the magazine in influencing their development of scientific skepticism. In the "Letters to the Editor", the most frequent letters of appreciation come from educators.

Mission statement and goals

Writer and skeptic Daniel Loxton, writing in 2013 about the mission and goals of the skeptical movement, criticized the idea that people wanted to read about the paranormal, Uri Geller and crystal skulls not being relevant any longer. Paul Kurtz in 2009 seemed to share this sentiment and stated that the organization would still research some paranormal subjects as they have expertise in this area, but they would begin to investigate other areas. S.I. "has reached an historic juncture: the recognition that there is a critical need to change our direction." While editor Kendrick Frazier did expand the scope of the magazine to include topics less paranormal and more that were an attack on science and critical thinking such as climate change denialism, conspiracy theories and the influence of the alt-med movement, Frazier also added that "paranormal beliefs are still widespread" and quoted surveys that state that the public, given a list of ten general paranormal topics, will select four as topics they believe in. While the general skeptic community believes that we should not waste more time debunking the paranormal, topics long ago discredited, Frazier says "millions of Americans accept them today."[1]

Barry Karr is the executive director of CSI and Skeptical Inquirer. In June 2023, Stephen Hupp was named as the magazine's editor. Hupp replaced Stuart Vyse, who was the interim editor in November 2022 following the passing of Kendrick Frazier.[2]

Writing for Scientific American in 1982, cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter said that the purpose of Skeptical Inquirer was to "combat nonsense" with articles in English that require no special knowledge or expertise, only "curiosity about truth".[3]

History

The magazine was originally titled The Zetetic (from the Greek meaning "skeptical seeker" or "inquiring skeptic"), and was originally edited by Marcello Truzzi.[4] About a year after its inception a schism developed between the editor Truzzi and the rest of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). The side represented by CSICOP was more "firmly opposed to nonsense, more willing to go on the offensive and to attack supernatural claims"[5] and the other side ("The relativist faction (one member)"[5], i.e. Truzzi) wanted science and pseudoscience to exist "happily together". Truzzi left to start The Zetetic Scholar and CSICOP changed the magazine's name to Skeptical Inquirer.[3]

Loxton speculates on the answer to the question that if CSICOP was not the first skeptical publication, why is it considered to be the "'birth of modern skepticism' (at least for the English-speaking world)"? He writes that it was because CSICOP organized "this scholarship collectively [and] comprised a distinct field of study." The organization was the first to establish "best practices... specialist experts... buildings... periodicals and professional writers and researchers."[6]

Magazine content

2009 Jan/Feb – 2020 May/June art director Christopher S. Fix until his death in March 2021.[7]

The magazine contains several regular columns (and contributors). These have changed over the years as follows:

Online magazine columns and columnists

The magazine's website includes current articles, as well as an archive dating back to 1994. A small selection of articles also have Spanish versions available. Most articles are organized into the following columns:[10]

  • Special Report – Various columnists, 2007–present
  • Curiouser and Curiouser – Kylie Sturgess, 2010–present
  • Guerrilla Skepticism – Susan Gerbic, 2013–present
  • Behavior & Belief – Stuart Vyse, 2014–present
  • Conference Report – Various columnists, 2014–present
  • SkepDoc's Corner – Harriet Hall, 2015–present
  • Consumer Health – William M. London, 2015–present
  • CSICon – Susan Gerbic and others, 2016–present
  • The Well-Known Skeptic – Rob Palmer, 2018–present
  • The Wide World of Science – Jamie Hale, 2018–present
  • A Closer Look – Kenny Biddle, 2018–present
  • European Skeptics Chronicles – Annika Merkelbach, 2018–present
  • The Thoughtful Conduit – Russ Dobler, 2018–present
  • In Memoriam – Various columnists, 2019–present
  • Letter to America – Wendy M. Grossman, 2019–present
  • But What Do I Know – Ada McVean, 2020–present
  • The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science – Nick Tiller, 2021–present

Influence

Several notable skeptics have described the magazine as influential to the early stages of their development as scientific skeptics. In 1995, Perry DeAngelis and Steven Novella were friends that played Dungeons & Dragons together until DeAngelis noticed a Skeptical Inquirer magazine on the table in Novella's condo. DeAngelis, also an avid reader of the magazine, pointed out the back page to Novella and said "What is missing?" DeAngelis stated that what was missing was a Connecticut skeptic group, he said "we should do this" to which Novella agreed. They started the New England Skeptical Society and eventually the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe (SGU) podcast.[11]

Writing for Scientific American, Douglas Hofstadter asked the question, why would Skeptical Inquirer succeed when the only people who read it are people who do not believe in the paranormal? The answer, he says, lies in the back of the magazine in the "Letters to the Editor" section. "Many people write in to say how vital the magazine has been to them, their friends and their students. High school teachers are among the most frequent writers of thank-you notes to the magazine's editors, but I have also seen enthusiastic letters from members of the clergy, radio talk-show hosts and people in many other professions."[3]

Daniel Loxton, in his essay "Ode to Joy" about discovering Skeptical Inquirer magazine as a freshman at his University writes...

But the true treasure, the lamp at the end of the cave, the thing that helped set the course of my life, was hidden away in the periodical collection: a complete set of the Skeptical Inquirer, going back to its launch in 1976. I couldn't believe such a wealth of skeptical research existed! I worked my way through the stack systematically, hungrily....[12]

Levy and Olynyk art project

Inspired by the four decades of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, an exhibition titled Some Provocations from Skeptical Inquirers by artists Ellen Levy and Patricia Olynyk, was held at the Baruch College Mishkin Gallery in February 2016. Reviewer Eileen G'Sell wrote that the artists "plumb the depths of the murky ontological sea that is empirical belief."[13] Writing for The Brooklyn Rail, reviewer William Corwin stated that the artwork represented "this built-in confrontation between fact and fiction (which) was the basis of the Skeptical Inquirer itself and its playful willingness to consider the most unlikely phenomena."[14]

Pensar

In June 2020, CFI announced the "newly launched CFI online publication", Pensar, "the Spanish language magazine for science, reason, and freethought." It is published by Alejandro Borgo, director of CFI Argentina.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Loxton, Daniel (2007). "Where do we go from here?" (PDF). Skeptic Blog. The Skeptic Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Skeptical Inquirer Magazine Introduces New Editor Stephen Hupp". Centerforinquiry.org. The Center for Inquiry. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Hofstadter, Douglas (February 1, 1982). "About two kinds of Inquiry: 'National Enquirer' and 'The Skeptical Inquirer'". Scientific American. 246 (2): 18–26. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0282-18. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ Paul Kurtz (2010). Exuberant Skepticism. Prometheus Books. p. 218. ISBN 978-1615929702. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Douglas Hofstadter (1985). Metamagical Themas. Penguin. p. 95. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  6. ↑ Loxton, Daniel (May 13, 2013). "Modern skepticism's unique mandate". Skeptic Blog. The Skeptic Society. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  7. ↑ "In Memoriam: Chris Fix, Our Former Art Director". Skeptical Inquirer. Committee for Skeptical Inquirer. 45 (3): 12. 2021.
  8. ↑ Harris, Ian (2018). "The Take a Wish Foundation". Skeptical Inquirer. 42 (3): 66. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020.
  9. ↑ Hall, Harriet (September 2018). "The Care and Feeding of the Vagina". Skeptical Inquirer. 42 (5): 28. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Online Exclusives". Skeptical Inquirer. January 7, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ Bernstein, Evan (August 19, 2013). "Remembering Perry DeAngelis Today". The Rogues Gallery. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014.
  12. ↑ Loxton, Daniel (April 27, 2010). "Ode to Joy". Skeptiblog. The Skeptic Society. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016.
  13. ↑ G'Sell, Eileen (March 19, 2016). "Sumptuous Skeptics: Ellen K. Levy and Patricia Olynyk Stage Creative Inquisition". Arte Fuse. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  14. ↑ Corwin, William (April 2016). "Truth in the Visual Arts Skepticism in the Work of Ellen K. Levy and Patricia Olynyk". The Brooklyn Rail. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Introducing PENSAR: Spanish Language Skeptic Magazine". Skepticalinquirer.org. CFI. June 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Pensar (Home)". pensar.org. CFI. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
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