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Exuberant Skepticism

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Paul Kurtz (Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, State University of New York, Buffalo) is a tireless advocate of rationality and an icon in the field of debunking the fantastically thinking associated with superstition and religion. He is also the driving authority behind Prometheus Books, the premier publishing of works emerging from the perspective of 'skeptical inquiry', and within the past few years a rather un-scale series of science fiction titles under the Prometheus Books imprint 'Pyr'. In "Paul Kurtz: Exuberant Skepticism", a deftly compiled and skillfully edited 230-page compendium showcasing Kurtz' thoughts, commentaries, and insights in advocating the use of science as a means of inquiry into the claims of the paranormal 'phenomena', as well as religious conceits and proffered explanations of real-world impacting belief systems, the reader will learn how to apply a skeptical inquiry mind-set to social, cultural, and political issues. Of special note is Kurtz's optimism as the future of rational discourse with respect to an ever improving understanding of the human condition. Simply stated, "Paul Kurtz: Exuberant Skepticism" is enthusiastically recommended reading and should be considered a seminal contribution to academic and community library Philosophy reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Kurtz advocates a positive skepticism he calls "Skeptical Inquiry". This book is a collection of his essays over the last 30 years and in them he advocates the scientific method with a questioning attitude. This is a fairly good statement of this position and I can easily recommend it.