Skepticism has a long history that includes multiple meanings and in the early twenty-first century has complex ethical implications for science and technology. It plays an important role within science and technology but also can be applied to the same areas. In the former case skepticism may serve as a means to reject mistaken or false claims, limit fraud and misconduct, and produce evaluations of engineering designs and the safety of technologies. In the latter case skepticism may help the public place the benefits of science and technology in a larger perspective, although it also may deprive the public of certain real benefits.

Antecedents

The roots of skepticism can be traced back at least 2,500 years to the ancient Greeks. The historian of skepticism Richard Popkin states: "Academic scepticism, so-called because it was formulated in the Platonic Academy in the third century, B.C.E., developed from the Socratic...