Scepticism: Hero and villain

Abstract

Scepticism was a central topic in the culture of ancient Greece, the source of Western civilization. Over some three thousand years scepticism remains an important tool with which to hone new ideas. With the advent of science and the opportunity for independent verification of concepts, scepticism has assumed a more central role in contemporary culture, requiring constant modification and updating. This volume has attempted to discuss scepticism in the context of both science and the humanities with 33 chapters covering a wide range of subjects without any attempt at being comprehensive. The authors come from different disciplines, though all have focused on the role of scepticism in their subjects. The editors have contributed short introductory and linking texts in an attempt to provide a smooth continuity between some chapters that are aimed at aiding the reader's transition between sections. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.