Science and Scepticism: Navigating Knowledge, Belief, and Faith

This chapter investigates how some of the conceptual distinctions developed by Stephen Gaukroger in his analysis of reconciliatory strategies marking the establishment of natural philosophy in The Emergence of a Scientific Culture can be used to better comprehend challenges resulting from an increased influence of religious doctrines in the political sphere and the spread of a certain brand of fanaticism associated with science scepticism and an uncritical acceptance of dubious knowledge claims. By focussing on what he calls assimilation and amalgamation, I provide reflections on the strategic value of sceptical arguments in the transformation and protection of established knowledge practices. I use this discussion to explore to what extent intellectual humility and trust can help to mitigate conflicting sets of beliefs to establish the benefits of a domain-specific knowledge pluralism.