"Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively."

Some believe that it is more conducive for students to accept what they are taught passively. Some others believe that students should bring certain amount of skepticism to whatever they study. The debate between these two school of thoughts is a contentious one. However, I believe that skepticism is a constructive learning mechanism. A certain amount of skepticism in the process of learning is healthy for it promotes critical thinking and reasoning. It encourages the students to question and tests validity of subject matters. However, too much skepticism can impeded the process of learning. I will discuss all of the following below.

A certain amount of skepticism is healthy for it encourages the student to think. Skepticism fosters critical thinking and reasoning. Skepticism teaches the student to test and validate the information that he or she has learned. A passive learner would simply absorb facts without questioning anything twice, even if the content of the subject was grossly incorrect. What if no one ever had the curiosity to question the theory that the earth was flat? People would be too afraid to explore other lands for fear of falling off the edge of earth. Critical thinking and reasoning has led to new discoveries and progress. New discoveries are made in the scientific field almost every day. Theories are constantly tested and limitations pointed out which leads to further understanding of the subject matter.

Thinking leads to asking. Asking is one of the oldest forms of learning. Socrates, who is considered one of the founding fathers of Western philosophy and thought had preached the Socratic method—a form of philosophical inquiry. Questioning opens the floor for debate and encourages a healthy flow of ideas and opinions from differing parties. This can benefit both the educator and the educatee for everyone has something new to bring to the table. The act of questioning, which encourages the student to approach their area of study in a critical manner can help the student gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. A passive learner who merely absorb facts only understands a subject on a superficial level. He or she might understand the theories and mechanics of the subject matter but might not necessarily know how to apply the knowledge on a real life basis. Take for example a doctor. He or she might memorize and know all the components of a human body but the fact is every patient is different. Following details by the book might not necessarily be the best approach in such situations.

Skepticism, in appropriate amounts can promote healthy curiosity. However, too much skepticism can actually impede the process of learning. A person who is continuously questioning and arguing facts would not have the time to absorb information, even though the information is beneficial to them.

In conclusion, skepticism in healthy doses promotes good analytical thinking and reasoning skills. Skepticism can lead to questioning which helps solidify a student's understanding of the subject matter. However, too much skepticism is unhealthy for it impedes the learning process.