I'm Jake

Image credit goes to Johannes Ahlmann Doubt: a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something, an inclination not to believe or accept. Imagine you’re watching a presidential debate, and the candidates are asked a complex question related to foreign policy. Candidate ‘A’ thinks hard, stammers nervously for a bit, and proceeds to rattle off an answer […]

The demand for reason and evidence tends to fluctuate dependent upon the topic. For instance, because of the ridiculous UFO craze back in the mid 1950’s, most in today’s age abide by Carl Sagan’s moniker when claims of extraterrestrial visitation are made: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” We (speaking generally, of course) don’t accept UFO claims […]

We long for someone to tell us the answers. There is something comforting about not having to think entirely for oneself; to delegate the responsibilities that come along with critical thinking and rational inquiry. Hell, even the most knowledgeable experts on any given topic rely on other experts for information that is outside their scope […]

You are often told to “be skeptical” and to “question everything”. This advice is casually tossed about by scientists, teachers, and in some cases, parents. But it is rarely accompanied by any sort of context or even so much as a definition of skepticism, or a description of the responsibility it entails. Because of this, […]

Diet. Religion. Drugs. Video games. Television. The list of beliefs, ideals, and habits that have the potential to be abused is endless. The love of food can be taken to an extreme, leading to the development of disordered behavior. Religion can bring about a dogmatic mindset, leading one to shut out all opposing viewpoints. Video […]