The U.S. welfare system would be an unlikely model for anyone designing a welfare system from scratch. The dozens of programs that make up the âsystemâ have different (sometimes competing) goals, inconsistent rules, and over-lapping groups of beneficiaries.
Definition of skepticism. 1  1 : an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object. 2  2a : the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertainb : the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics.
Certain kinds of knowledge may be especially vulnerable to skepticism. For example, an agnostic believes that knowledge of supernatural things cannot be attained. Skepticism is widely used as a method for research in science, and (with variations) in modern legal procedure. Here doubt, suspending judgement, methodical investigation, testing and discussion precede any statement of facts. Sometimes the process takes years before consensus is reached.