Known for his contributions to education, psychology, and philosophy, John Dewey was a well-known American philosopher and educational theorist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His observation that skepticism is a quality of highly educated people is one of his most noteworthy insights.

Consider knowledge to be similar to building a house. Every new piece of knowledge you acquire is like a brick added to the structure. A less experienced person might construct their home in this manner without considering the origins of each brick or whether it fits precisely. To make sure it's the right brick for the job, someone who has invested more time in learning and critical thinking will carefully inspect each one before putting it in place.

According to Dewey, acquiring knowledge is only one aspect of true education; another is continuously assessing it. He maintained that informed minds shouldn't take anything at face value and should instead approach information with a healthy dose of skepticism. This questioning and analyzing mindset is what Dewey called skepticism.

Dewey thought that by encouraging this type of critical thinking, people would be better able to deal with the complicated world they live in. Instead of categorically rejecting ideas, skepticism entails considering various viewpoints before making a decision or acting. This method promotes an ongoing pursuit of truth and assists individuals in recognizing gaps in their knowledge.

Dewey viewed skepticism as a useful tool that educated people employ to make sure they are active participants in the learning and discovery process rather than merely passive consumers of information.