Skepticism vs. cynicism or idealism

BinaryPulsar

A quote from the book, "Raising Freethinkers" ...but something to consider when choosing to be informed or to accept (or reject) without research (checking facts).

"Skepticism--the simple request for reasoning or evidence before accepting a proposition--is a virtue to cultivate in our kids. But cynicism is something quite different. A cynical position makes negative assumptions as a matter of course, not as a result of the evidence, so a cynic is as uncritical as a dewy-eyed believer. One accepts without thinking; the other rejects without thinking. Both postures are obstacles to critical thinking, and both should be actively avoided." ~Dale McGowan