Sir Paul Nurse on Science and Skepticism - BBC Horizon's "Science Under Attack" (2011)

Sir Paul Nurse, current president of the Royal Society, states in "Science Under Attack" (2011):

"the authority science can claim comes from evidence and experiment and an attitude of mind that seeks to test its theories to destruction.  Skepticism is really important [...] I always tell my students and post-doctoral workers 'be the worst enemy of your own idea, always challenge it, always test it' [...] healthy skepticism [...] is a fundamental part of the scientific process."

Note: very nice.

Sagan By Way of Singh, By Way of NECSS:

here, I muse on the relationship between science and skepticism:

001. recently, at the 2010 NECSS, JREF President Grothe had discussed the etymological root of the work skeptic, which basically is 'inquirer.'  I had stated two posts ago that 'science is a form of skepticism,' as in 'a particular form of inquiry.'  This blog is centered upon scientific inquiry into naturopathy. 

002. now, Simon Singh has won his libel issue with the British Chiropractic Association, and also has put up for free on the web the chapter from Trick or Treatment what deals with chiropractic. 

002.a. that book's page 180 quotes Carl Sagan:

"at the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes -- an openness to new ideas [...] and the most ruthlessly skeptical scrutiny of all ideas [...] this is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense."

Note: so, not to belabor the point yet to reiterate, science is a form of skepticism.  Naturopathy, though, is a form of absurdity, junk thought, and irrationality.  I engage in skeptical scrutiny here, and hopefully I'm ruthless enough.