|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
In latest Scientific American there is an excellent article: Skeptic - Skepticism as a Virtue.
You can find it online at www.sciam.com. On left side click on Current Issue scroll down three quarters, and on right of two columns find the title. Only one page, but I enjoyed it very much.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866 |
Thanks wwh Clickable version: http://www.sciam.comstales
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
So which one of you wants to be known as The King of Sciam? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Fiberbabe: If I am the King of Sciam, will you be my Anna?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Dr. Bill,
I thought I was your Anna [pout]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
A good read. The website - www.skeptic.com is certainly mows down all those half-truths you pick up, as is www.urbanlegends.com - that is if you believe in any of that stuff [grin].
What's the story with the 'c' and 'k' in sceptic. I have always written it with a 'c', I guess because the 'k' would have made me think I was writing in German (schaut skeptisch:-|).
'K ' is of course, as the artikle(!) states from Greek and the 'c' form from Latin. It is quite rare that we find this Greek form though, [question tag]? I can only think of 'sk' in a few words - none of Greek origin either, I think.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear by: my dictionary gives both, and says "sceptic" is chiefly British.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
oh no, dr. bill! don't tell me you'd go with the latter-day 4th sense of skeptic! -joe (the cynic) friday http://home.mn.rr.com/wwftd/
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear joe (gone to the dogs) friday: I cannot fathom fourth meaning of your dictionary.
Blame the "k" on the old lexicographer:
&hand; This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, -- sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy. Syn. -- Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. -
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
dear bill, it's not my dictionary -- I refer you to your URL.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,318
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
775
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
