Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (in English Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, CSI) is a program of the American transnational non-profit educational organization Research Center (in English i>Center for Inquiry, CFI).

Its goal is to "promote scientific inquiry, critical inquiry and the use of reason when examining controversial and extraordinary claims".

Paul Kurtz proposed the establishment of CSICOP in 1976 as an independent non-profit organization (before merging with the CFI as one of its programs in 2015) to counter what he saw as uncritical acceptance and support of claims paranormals of both the media and society in general. His philosophical position is one of scientific skepticism. Members of the CSI have included notable scientists, Nobel laureates, philosophers, psychologists, educators, and writers. It is headquartered in Amherst, New York.

Features

Formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, (in English Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal CSICOP). In November 2006, it shortened its name to the 'Committee for Skeptical Inquiry'.

The CSI has conducted investigations into paranormal claims as diverse as UFO sightings and psychic phenomena such as pseudoscience, astrology, alternative medicine, and religious cults. Some famous members of CSICOP are or have been Bill Nye, Isaac Asimov, Carl Sagan, Martin Gardner, James Randi, Michael Shermer and many others.

The CSI publishes the Skeptical Inquirer in English and recently the magazine Pensar for the Spanish-speaking public, as well as a long series of books in which reports on the best known pseudoscientific beliefs.

Critical investigations of the paranormal conducted by CSICOP rest on the organization's belief that extraordinary claims must be reliably proven or dismissed as baseless claims.

Similar organizations have also emerged in the Hispanic world such as: the Society for the Advancement of Critical Thought (ARP-SAPC), the Skeptical Circle in Spain, the CAIRP (CAIRP) and the Skeptical Association of Chile (AECH).

Partial list of members (past and present)

The back cover of Skeptical Inquirer magazine lists the following members.

Criticism

Critics of the organization accuse its members of arrogance and pseudo-skepticism, saying that the committee has a fixed idea that the paranormal does not exist regardless of any evidence that may be presented in favor of it. CSICOP's classic response to these criticisms has been that there is no evidence presented and scientifically proven of any type of paranormal phenomenon. According to the scientific community, every paranormal claim that has been made throughout history has failed under close scientific examination.

CSICOP's active skepticism about paranormal phenomena and fringe theories has led the organization to encounter strong opposition from many of the groups it has criticized. Some of these groups claim that CSICOP lacks the necessary credibility to assume its own functions.

In 1977 a government investigation against the Church of Scientology showed evidence of considerable documents prepared to discredit CSICOP in which it was intended to introduce the rumor that it was an arm of the CIA. On other occasions, this organization has been accused of discrediting religious beliefs.

On the other hand, Carl Sagan, a prominent member of the organization, in his book The World and its Demons celebrates the existence of an organization like CSICOP and makes some constructive comments to improve it, as well as the movement skeptical.