The Skeptic's Dictionary is a collection of cross-referenced skeptical essays by Robert Todd Carroll, published on his website skepdic.com and in a printed book. The skepdic.com site was launched in 1994 and the book, was published in 2003. The website has continued to grow after the publication of the book and contains about 100 more entries than the book.

Carroll is a self-professed atheist Robert Todd Carroll's Personal Profile and "hardened skeptic" (one "who has strong disbelief about all things occult"). Carroll states that his opinions are not meant to present a balanced view on occult subjects. Robert T. Carroll, "Skeptic's Dictionary", pp. 1-3, "My beliefs are clearly that of a hardened skeptic...I use the term 'occult' to refer to any of all of these subjects. The reader is forewarned that The Skeptics Dictionary does not try to present a balanced account of occult subjects. If anything, this book is a Davidian counterbalance to the Goliath of occult literature. I hope that an occasional missile hits its mark...As already stated, the one group that this book is not designed for is that of the true believers. My studies have convinced me that arguments or data critical of their beliefs are always considered by true believers to be insignificant, irrelevant, manipulative, deceptive, not authoritative, unscientific, unfair, biased, closed-minded, irrational and/or diabolical. (It is perhaps worth noting that except for the term “diabolical,” these are the same terms some hardened skeptics use to describe the studies and evidence presented by true believers.) "

The Skeptic's Dictionary:

covers such categories as alternative medicine; cryptozoology; extraterrestrials and UFOs; frauds and hoaxes; junk science; New Age energy; the paranormal, the supernatural, and the psychic. Also covered are dozens of topics in logic and perception and science and philosophy that help explain the appeal and popularity of occult beliefs, as well as guide the reader to think critically about them.^*

See also

• Quackwatch

References

• Carroll, Robert Todd. (2003). The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-27242-6 (paperback)

External links

• The Skeptic's Dictionary

2003 books | Philosophy books | Websites | Scientific skepticism | Pseudoscience