Peter Machell wrote:
I know of one Brisbane GP who's involved - he's a good one and has a
healthy cynicism about the process.
I hope and presume that you meant 'a healthy skepticism' rather than 'a
healthy cynicism'. I'm not sure that cynicism can ever be healthy.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynicism :
"An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general
distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others: the public
cynicism aroused by governmental scandals."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/skepticism :
"A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind; (...) A
methodology based on an assumption of doubt with the aim of acquiring
approximate or relative certainty."
As I understand, skeptics reserve their judgement and are willing to be
convinced by good evidence, while cynics have already made a judgement
either without evidence, or perhaps based on past experiences that may
not be relevant.
--
Oliver Frank, general practitioner
255 North East Road, Hampstead Gardens, South Australia 5086
Phone 08 8261 1355 Fax 08 8266 5149 Mobile 0407 181 683
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