The interplay of belief and skepticism in advancing science and addressing global health challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17267/2675-021Xevidence.2025.e5962Keywords:
Religion, Ethics, Medical Healthcare, Compassion, FaithAbstract
ABSTRACT | CONTEXT: Belief and skepticism, often seen as opposing forces, both play crucial roles in shaping scientific inquiry and addressing global health challenges. Belief provides ethical frameworks, fosters cooperation, and inspires compassion, while skepticism nurtures intellectual humility, critical thinking, and empirical rigor. CONCEPTUALIZATION: This article explores how these philosophical and spiritual frameworks, despite their apparent differences, mutually enrich the scientific endeavor. By integrating principles of faith, agnosticism, and organized skepticism, I examine their influence on ethics, motivation, societal development, and practical applications in medicine and global health. Through this synthesis, I highlight how these perspectives converge to support a science driven by evidence, empathy, and a commitment to the greater good.
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