---
title: "Pseudoskepticism"
chunk: 2/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoskepticism"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:44:59.310494+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

== Subsequent usage ==
Susan Blackmore, who lost her initial belief in parapsychology and in 1991 became a CSICOP fellow, later described what she termed the "worst kind of pseudoskepticism":

There are some members of the skeptics' groups who clearly believe they know the right answer prior to inquiry. They appear not to be interested in weighing alternatives, investigating strange claims, or trying out psychic experiences or altered states for themselves (heaven forbid!), but only in promoting their own particular belief structure and cohesion.
Hugo Anthony Meynell from the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, labels the "extreme position that all significant evidence supporting paranormal phenomena is a result of deception or lies" as pseudoskepticism.
While Truzzi's characterization was aimed at the holders of majority views whom he considered were excessively impatient of minority opinions, the term has been used to describe advocates of minority intellectual positions who engage in pseudoskeptical behavior when they characterize themselves as "skeptics" despite cherry picking evidence that conforms to a preexisting belief. Thus according to Richard Cameron Wilson, some advocates of AIDS denial are indulging in "bogus scepticism" when they argue in this way. Wilson argues that the characteristic feature of false skepticism is that it "centres not on an impartial search for the truth, but on the defence of a preconceived ideological position". Examples include climate change denial and Moon landing denial.

== See also ==
Agnosticism
Argument from ignorance
Debunker
Denialism
Pseudoscience
Pseudorationalism
Scientism
The New Inquisition

== Notes and references ==