“Cogito ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am) – with these three Latin words, René Descartes, renowned as the father of modern philosophy, proved his own existence in his Discourse on Method in 1637.  With this work, the ancient idea of skepticism was revived, calling into question all that is not incontrovertible and providing the methodological foundation from which all modern natural sciences could evolve.

Over a century later, faced with Bishop George Berkeley’s theory of the non-existence of matter, Dr. Samuel Johnson, the noted English essayist and lexicographer, contradicted Berkeley’s philosophy in a more mundane way.  According to Dr. Johnson’s biographer James Boswell – during a discussion of Bishop Berkeley’s theory following a church service, Dr. Johnson kicked a heavy stone with his boot and exclaimed “I refute it thus.”

In the intervening centuries, skepticism has become a mainstay of scientific inquiry and of a disbelieving public.  But, what does it mean to be a skeptic in today’s world?  For many, the word “skeptic” has a negative connotation.  These people view skeptics as nay-sayers, as people who view the glass as “half-empty.”  While skepticism is a source of annoyance to those who wish to rush forward with their respective projects, programs, and actions, the skeptic provides needed perspective and a “cooling off period” averting potential adverse results from the implementation of ill-advised, poorly-planned programs.  Questioning everything, the modern skeptic analyzes all facets of issues in question and arrives at reasoned, sensible conclusions.

Often relying on “common sense,” there is nothing common about the sensibilities and reasoning of the modern skeptic.  Although perhaps not as erudite as René Descartes, the skeptic of today does not need to ponder weighty philosophical issues to select the most beneficial real world scenario.  Like Dr. Samuel Johnson, he can apply basic analytical tools and a healthy dose of common sense to parse and resolve vexing issues.