Thought for the Week: Faith and scepticism

John Anderson considers the need for faith and scepticism

by John Anderson 3rd February 2017

Faith and scepticism – we need both – faith without scepticism is like trying to walk with one leg only – but, as I omitted to say, one has to have some impression, opinion or belief for scepticism to act on – scepticism is the leg that cannot exist on its own.

William Le Fevre

If we require evidence that Homo sapiens is not, in the nature of things, the topmost predator, we need look no further than the evolution of these counter-balancing virtues – faith and scepticism. Credulous gazelles that mistake a crouching lion for an anthill are easy prey, and nature, red in policy and performance, makes short work of the credulity gene.