The Standard
The Truth
Demands More
From Us
Higher standards of evidence, reasoning, and intellectual honesty—in everything we do.
We pursue the truth with rigor, humility, and courage.
These ten standards govern every investigation, publication, recommendation, and book.
Reality
Reality comes before opinion.
We follow the evidence wherever it leads, not where we hope it leads.
Evidence
Demand evidence. Reject authority.
Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth. Judge every claim by its evidence, never by its source.
Honesty
Admit what you don’t know.
You either know something or you don’t. If you haven’t examined the evidence, then don’t pretend you have.
Courage
Have the courage to question everything.
Never conform to an idea simply because it is popular. Question everything—especially popular ideas.
Mechanisms
Mechanisms matter.
Mechanisms reveal how and why something happens.
Convergence
No single line of evidence is sufficient.
Extraordinary claims require multiple, independent, converging lines of evidence.
Confidence
Confidence must match the evidence.
We are careful not to oversell what the evidence can actually support.
Explanation
The best explanation must account for the whole picture.
It must fit all of the evidence, including the hard cases and apparent contradictions.
Uncertainty
Uncertainty must be stated honestly.
We clearly communicate what is known, what is unknown, and how sure we can be.
Evolution
Let the evidence change your mind.
Changing your mind is a sign of intellectual integrity. When better evidence emerges, update your thinking.
The Standard Is Never Finished.
Better evidence demands better explanations. Better knowledge demands better questions. And higher standards demand that we continue raising them.