This charter defines the fundamental principles to which all members of Mythodologie adhere. It guides our actions, publications, and interventions.
Article 1: Mythodologie's Stance
Mythodologie adopts a stance to which it attaches paramount importance, based on a few strong principles. Adherence to these principles implies acceptance, under penalty of possible exclusion or non-renewal in case of serious breaches.
Respect for individual backgrounds
We do not make a strict separation between believers who defend controversial theories and ourselves. We each have our own life paths, different cultures, educations, environments, references. It is imperative to consider that we speak to people who do not necessarily share our references.
The association rejects psychological or even biological reductionism of belief. The reasons why individuals hold information to be true are not reducible to a faulty way of thinking.
Presumption of good faith
Proponents are very rarely charlatans who knowingly deceive. Most of those who support unvalidated theses do so in good faith. Therefore, we must be respectful and not make unfounded accusations against our interlocutors. Direct criticism and refutations must be justified.
Importance of argument form
Being right is not enough to convince. Frontal aggression against people often has no effectiveness whatsoever. We want to be demanding about the form and substance of what we present. We do not wish to consciously denounce fallacious reasoning while resorting to it ourselves.
Modesty and recognition of our own biases
The reasons that lead to belief apply to everyone, including us. The association is not a club of people who would hold the truth against the rest of the world. While our work involves identifying biases, we believe there are no certainties without arguments. Modesty in stance is essential.
Evolution of knowledge
Knowledge and theories are incomplete and evolve. A theory cannot make a fact impossible, while the reverse is possible. All facts deserve attention under the scrutiny of scientific criteria. We align with the philosophical current of skepticism that denies the possibility of knowing absolute truths. Everything we believe must be open to question.
Non-partisanship and political implications
Political opinions are diverse within the association which aims to remain non-partisan. However, defending and teaching critical thinking is a common position that necessarily has political implications. We do not claim to be above the fray or supposedly neutral.
Clarification of scientific claims
Not all content promoted by the association is necessarily intended to be pure scientific popularization. Statements may go beyond the descriptive scientific framework. Nevertheless, whether statements are scientific or not must be clear. When appropriate, statements must be supported by sources.
Freedom of expression and rule compliance
Each member can hold whatever political and moral views they want, as long as they respect the internal rules and statutes.
Article 2: Mythodologie's Commitment in its Productions
2.1 Thematic scope
The association focuses on critical thinking and scientific methodology to assess controversial theses. We do not claim to address all areas where a critical approach could be applied. Other associations already specialize in media criticism, urban legends, or offer scientific popularization. We take on a topic when we feel it is useful to inform the general public, or because it is a subject neglected by classical scientific popularization.
2.2 Our pedagogical approach
The association seeks to make scientific research and its content accessible, focusing on how it is constructed in practice. Examples related to pseudosciences are a privileged means to address epistemological questions. We try to give examples transferable to other subjects, so the public can develop general critical thinking.
Our investigation limits
Our approach can only investigate what falls under material and not metaphysical claims. It aims to rely on raw and objectifiable facts, and testable hypotheses. Which is difficult in certain fields.
Political implications of our approach
The association does not aim to promote any particular political ideology. Our approach is political in the sense that it aims to transform society in different ways:
- • We want political decisions to be based as much as possible on scientifically robust data
- • We want to extend the scope of democratic debate, which implies fighting against social oppressions and for collective emancipation
- • The choice of subjects and the angle of approach to discuss them impact our audience's opinions. We therefore have a responsibility regarding this.
2.3 Disposition conducive to critical thinking
Critical thinking includes a number of skills and dispositions. Critical thinking is never acquired: it is always possible to improve these skills and dispositions.
- • Curiosity is an important disposition, as is the desire to learn about different aspects of a situation
- • Concern for truthfulness and clarity is important
- • Keeping the initial concern in mind matters
- • Analyzing processes, not just results, is important
2.4 Transparency
Transparency is at the heart of our work. Our responsibility to our members requires us to be open and transparent. We publish reports on our activities. We commit to answering questions honestly. We make our financial documents public. All funds we receive must be used efficiently and responsibly.
We are determined to be transparent about the challenges we face. We believe transparency allows our community to hold us accountable.
We commit to transparency in our approach to scientific research. We cite our sources. We are clear about the limits of our knowledge. We are open to criticism and revision of our work.
By committing to ethics and transparency, we hope to strengthen trust.
Article 3: Mythodologie's Values
The association is founded on different values that bring its members together. When communicating externally, these values serve as our compass.
Ethical commitment
Our ethical commitment means we treat all individuals with respect and dignity, without discrimination or favoritism. We strive to act with honesty, integrity, and fairness in all our actions. We respect applicable laws and regulations. We strive to promote a culture of ethics among our members.
3.1 Inclusivity
We work together to create an environment where every member feels valued and respected.
Popularization and accessibility
Our goal is to popularize and make information accessible to as many people as possible. This requires an open and inclusive attitude.
Respect and non-discrimination
We prohibit any discriminatory or demeaning behavior, including those disguised under the guise of humor. Each member must be treated fairly, without discrimination based on age, gender, class, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
Inclusive recruitment practices
We commit to adopting inclusive recruitment practices, attracting applications from all sectors of the community, ensuring fair and transparent selection processes.
Equitable training and development
We aim to offer equitable training opportunities to all our members, ensuring everyone has the skills needed to contribute fully.
Accessibility and equitable participation
The association commits to creating material conditions for maximum access to its public events, making all its activities and facilities as accessible as possible, and promoting equitable participation where all voices are heard.
Diversity management
If we manage to attract diverse profiles, we commit to valuing differences and bringing this diversity to life among members to improve everyone's experience.
3.2 Internal tools and free software
The association uses various internal tools for its activities. If free software is available, the association will favor its use. The use of computer tools should not be a constraint. Important discussions must be readable on tools mastered by all.
3.3 Commitment to continuous evolution and adaptability
Our association understands that the landscape of knowledge is constantly evolving. Science continues to progress and bring new perspectives. This requires us to regularly rethink our methods and viewpoints.
Active collaboration
The association commits to actively collaborating with other organizations, with the aim of sharing and learning current best practices. This collaboration transcends our association's boundaries, allows us to stay informed of the latest advances, while sharing our own discoveries and advances.
Regular evaluation
We commit to regularly evaluating the relevance of our methods and practices in light of the latest scientific discoveries. Regular and rigorous evaluation will allow us to guarantee the effectiveness of our actions and adapt quickly when necessary. We believe in the importance of questioning and continuous adjustment to live up to our ambitions.
Integration of scientific research
We are resolved to incorporate advances in critical thinking and scientific research into our work. Whether in education, communication, or management, we seek to be informed and influenced by the best available data. This approach ensures our work is based on the most recent knowledge.
Rejection of reductionism
There is not just one way of seeing the world that we could easily know. Scientific theories are as many models that can be useful for understanding the world. It seems important to us to remain curious about the content of all available data and not to make hierarchies between different scientific disciplines. We oppose, for example, the idea that biology alone could explain human behavior, or that it is possible to correctly analyze conspiracy theories only through the lens of cognitive biases. A foundation in science and political philosophy seems essential to us.
Recognition of fallibility
We are aware of our fallibility. Despite all our efforts, some of our content may not be up to date in light of the latest discoveries or advances. That is why we encourage our members and readers to maintain critical distance, ask questions, and keep us informed if information seems outdated. Questioning oneself can be extremely difficult. That is why we value people who manage to change their opinion over time.
Perspective
By focusing our action on these commitments, we hope to create a dynamic and innovative environment where curiosity is encouraged, knowledge is shared, and learning is a priority. We are convinced that by remaining open and constantly adapting, we can better serve our members and contribute to the enrichment of society.
Acceptance of criticism
The condition for us to evolve is our ability to receive criticism, provided it is relevant.
Our commitment
By joining Mythodologie, each member commits to respecting this charter in their activities within the association. Failure to respect these principles may result in appropriate measures decided by the board.