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 | |
| Editor-in-chief | Stephen Hupp |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Bimonthly |
| Publisher | |
| Founded | 1976; 49 years ago (1976) |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Amherst, New York |
| Language | English |
| Website | skepticalinquirer |
| ISSN | 0194-6730 |
Skeptical Inquirer (S.I.) is a bimonthly American general-audience magazine published by theCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) with the subtitle "The Magazine for Science and Reason". The magazine initially focused on investigating claims of theparanormal, but evolved and expanded to address otherpseudoscientific topics that are antithetical tocritical thinking andscience. Notableskeptics have credited the magazine in influencing their development ofscientific skepticism. In the "Letters to the Editor", the most frequent letters of appreciation come fromeducators.
The magazine was originally titledThe Zetetic (from the Greek meaning "skeptical seeker" or "inquiring skeptic"), and was originally edited byMarcello Truzzi.[1] About a year after its inception a schism developed between the editor Truzzi and the rest of theCommittee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). CSICOP was more "firmly opposed to nonsense, more willing to go on the offensive and to attack supernatural claims" while Truzzi wanted science and pseudoscience to exist "happily together".[2] FounderPaul Kurtz strongly believed "it's important that, when claims of the paranormal get wide public attention and belief, the skeptical position also get media attention".[3] Truzzi resigned to startThe Zetetic Scholar and CSICOP changed the magazine's name toSkeptical Inquirer and hiredKendrick Frazier as the new editor.[4][3]
The first issue of S.I. was Fall/Winter 1976.[5] In 1995, S.I. changed format fromdigest size to a standard magazine size, increased the publication frequency from quarterly to bimonthly, and addednewsstand circulation in addition to subscription.[6]: 176
In 2013, writer and skepticDaniel Loxton posited that ifSkeptical Inquirer was not the first skeptical publication, it is yet considered the"'birth of modern skepticism' (at least for the English-speaking world)" because CSICOP organized "this scholarship collectively [and] comprised a distinct field of study", and was the first to establish "best practices... specialist experts... buildings... periodicals and professional writers and researchers".[7]
Barry Karr is the executive director of CSI andSkeptical Inquirer. In June 2023, Stephen Hupp, a professor in the Department of Psychology atSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville, was named as the magazine's editor.[8] Hupp replacedStuart Vyse, who was the interim editor in November 2022 following the passing of Kendrick Frazier.[9]
In 2025, as a way to be more inclusive, Skeptical Inquirer launched an audio version of the magazine, available on several podcast sites.[10]
TheCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry functions as ascientific society and, upon editorial acceptance, publishes articles from independent scientists and investigators in theSkeptical Inquirer.[6]: 170 Published topics have includedfringe science,pseudoscience,paranormalism,psychic phenomena,astrology,ufology,homeopathy, andNew Age, as well as articles on politics, general science, cyberterrorism, and others.[6][11] Writing forScientific American in 1982, cognitive scientistDouglas Hofstadter said that the purpose ofSkeptical Inquirer was to "combat nonsense" with articles in English that require no special knowledge or expertise, only "curiosity about truth".[4][12]
Loxton, writing in 2013 about the mission and goals of the skeptical movement, countered the idea that people no longer wanted to read about the paranormal, and recommended getting back to S.I.'s basics.Paul Kurtz in 2009 seemed to share this sentiment and stated that the organization would still research some paranormal subjects as they have expertise in this area, but they would begin to investigate other areas. "CSICOP has reached an historic juncture: the recognition that there is a critical need to change our direction", Kurtz wrote. While editorKendrick Frazier did expand the scope of the magazine to include more topics on subjects that attacked science or critical thinking—such asclimate change denialism,conspiracy theories and the influence of thealternative medicine movement—Frazier also noted that "paranormal beliefs are still widespread", and quoted surveys that state that the public, given a list of ten general paranormal topics, will select four as topics they believe in. While the general skeptic community believes that we should not waste more time debunking the paranormal, topics long ago discredited, Frazier says "millions of Americans accept them today".[11] Even with such long odds against "an organized paranormal lobby, a magical marketing machine", Loxton implores skeptics to continue researching, writing and publishing: "We can't win any ultimate victory over superstition or ignorance, but we can do a lot of good if we fight hard enough."[11]
The January/February 2023 issue featured an article by Craig Foster that examinedSkeptical Inquirer Vol. 1, no. 1 comparing it to the current publication, and found that "1976 principles of skepticism" still resonate forty-six years later "The Truzzi and Kurtz editorials are so consistent with contemporary skepticism, I thinkSkeptical Inquirer could reprint them today, without dates, and readers wouldn't find them peculiar." Furthermore "The only out-of-place sentiment seems to be imagining the journal as an exchange between skeptics and paranormal promotors"[5]
Science communicatorNeil deGrasse Tyson saidSkeptical Inquirer is his favorite magazine and it tells him what people are currently "misthinking" about.[13] In his 2017 book,Bill Nye recommended S.I. to his readers as a magazine that "promote[s] the aggressive form of critical thinking needed to immunize us to fakery".[14]Eric Zorn wrote that S.I. "remains a favorite of those of us who can, in fact, handle the truth".[15]
Several notable skeptics have described the magazine as influential to the early stages of their development asscientific skeptics. In 1995,Perry DeAngelis andSteven Novella were friends that playedDungeons & Dragons together until DeAngelis noticed aSkeptical Inquirer magazine on the table in Novella's condo. DeAngelis, also an avid reader of the magazine, pointed out the back page to Novella and said "What is missing?" DeAngelis stated that what was missing was a Connecticut skeptic group, he said "we should do this" to which Novella agreed. They started theNew England Skeptical Society and eventually theSkeptic's Guide to the Universe (SGU) podcast.[16]
Writing forScientific American,Douglas Hofstadter asked the question, why wouldSkeptical Inquirer succeed when the only people who read it are people who do not believe in the paranormal? The answer, he says, lies in the back of the magazine in the "Letters to the Editor" section. "Many people write in to say how vital the magazine has been to them, their friends and their students. High school teachers are among the most frequent writers of thank-you notes to the magazine's editors, but I have also seen enthusiastic letters from members of the clergy, radio talk-show hosts and people in many other professions."[4]
Daniel Loxton, in his essay "Ode to Joy" about discoveringSkeptical Inquirer magazine as a freshman at his University writes...
But the true treasure, the lamp at the end of the cave, the thing that helped set the course of my life, was hidden away in the periodical collection: a complete set of theSkeptical Inquirer, going back to its launch in 1976. I couldn't believe such a wealth of skeptical research existed! I worked my way through the stack systematically, hungrily....[17]
Inspired by the four decades ofSkeptical Inquirer magazine, an exhibition titledSome Provocations from Skeptical Inquirers by artistsEllen Levy andPatricia Olynyk, was held at theBaruch College Mishkin Gallery in February 2016. Reviewer Eileen G'Sell wrote that the artists "plumb the depths of the murky ontological sea that is empirical belief."[18] Writing forThe Brooklyn Rail, reviewer William Corwin stated that the artwork represented "this built-in confrontation between fact and fiction (which) was the basis of the Skeptical Inquirer itself and its playful willingness to consider the most unlikely phenomena."[19]
...Skeptical Inquirer magazine, my single favorite magazine in the world — let the record show. Yes, every [inaudible] I wait for it to show up. How are people misthinking things today? And there it is, and they show it.
A vaccine against deception ... As a counterforce to all the predatory deceivers, several skeptical organizations fight the good fight for science. The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ... and the Skeptics Society are two of the leading lights. They seek out specific claims, evaluate them, and publicize their versions of the process ... Both CSI and the Skeptics Society put out magazines that promote the aggressive form of critical thinking needed to immunize us to fakery.
In 1976, Randi was one of several founding members of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), an academically minded organization aimed at combating "a rising tide of uncritical belief in astrology, parapsychology and other unfounded subjects," as contemporary news reports put it. CSICOP's magazine, The Skeptical Inquirer, remains a favorite of those of us who can, in fact, handle the truth.
