PHIL210 CRITICAL THINKING DISCUSSION 6

RESPONSE TO CO-STUDENT

I agree that science and pseudoscience are not comfortable bedfellows because of their structural approaches. I agree that some claims are very unusual and almost unbelievable but after careful scrutiny some relay some credibility.

Being a skeptic is good but being open minded allows change and adjustment to alteration in people's reactions and approaches to dealing with change.

Thank you.

Felicia

RESPONSE TO CO-STUDENT

I agree with your thoughts that perceptions cause difficulties and misunderstandings. Sometimes the claims are promotional but may be based on a limited test group. Therefore, these results cannot be controlled or judged as ineffectual. I also agree that it would be unwise to believe anything recently or in the future.

Thank you.

Felicia

CURRENT DQ:

"Identifying Truth or Fiction"

The video clip ‘The Baloney Detection Kit’ in the Webtext this week discusses the many ways in which an effective critical thinker assesses the claims made by others. Explain what you believe is the real difference between ‘science’ and ‘pseudoscience’.

The real difference between science and pseudoscience is the procedure in identifying a problem whereas pseudoscience provides an explanation after a fact is determined. Also, the scientific method is a methodological process to test and observe and form a reasonable explanation or hypothesis and then test it to see if it supports the hypothesis or theory. Further the scientific method is repeatable and has more credibility then pseudoscience because it uses trackable reports and logical approaches to render an answer. Whereas pseudoscience does not consider alternatives and is limited in its perspective and does not adhere to peer reviews to help support a claim or query.

Examine the key reasons why so many people might seem to be attracted to more pseudoscience-type claims. Describe at least two (2) such claims that you have heard people make, and analyze the main reasons why such claims do or do not meet rigorous scientific methodology standards. Determine at least two (2) ways in which the material discussed this week has changed your own thinking.

The key reasons why so many people are attracted because the claims are sensational, emotionally charged and appealing and easy to be attracted to because they meet the ability to hopefully grant a wish.

Example One – Cider Vinegar

In relation to cider vinegar is its ability to be used for various health reasons, e.g., high blood pressure, salads, cleaning ability and other uses. Some people swear that a teaspoon helps to lower blood pressure. But if tested by scientific methodology it would probably not be enabled to be certified that it is true actuality and would work for everyone.

Example Two – Prunes

That eating and consuming of prunes would cause a predictive relief of constipation for everyone. Because of the varying procedures of each individual bodily functioning the claim would not meet rigorous scientific methodology because of mild, moderate and severe constipation cannot all be relieved by eating prunes.

Two ways the material that was discussed this week has given a more analytical lookout on how structured scientific methodology is and how sensation helps win compliance when dealing with pseudoscience and accepting it as true.

UPDATED DQ:

"Identifying Truth or Fiction"

The video clip ‘The Baloney Detection Kit’ in the Webtext this week discusses ways an effective critical thinker assesses claims made by others. Examine key reasons why people might seem attracted to pseudoscience-type claims.

Key reasons why people are attracted to pseudoscience type claims are:

1. Curiosity
2. Fascination
3. Willingness to try alternative prior to agreeing to surgery
4. Real science is difficult to understand
5. It goes along with their beliefs.
6. Inspires confidence
7. It goes along with their beliefs
8. It goes along with something they are trying to sell
9. The possibility it could be real.
10. It was once considered real science.
http://thesoapboxrantings.blogspot.com/2013/08/11-reasons-why-people-believe-in.html

Describe at least two (2) such claims that you have heard people make, and analyze the main reasons why such claims do or do not meet rigorous scientific methodology standards.

Example One – Crop Circles

Whether or not the feasibility that a UFO actually came and made this impression and because of this it is a pseudoscience claim because there is not a logical explanation to explain the odd appearance and impression in the crop field. Further the owner stated he did not stage it it just appeared over the weekend and the capability of it meeting a rigorous scientific methodology standard to attempt to explain it would be impossible.
https://circularstateofmind.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/crop-circles-2014-harewell-lane-nr-besford-worcestershire/

Example Two – Embarrassing Conspiracy Theories: Acts of Mass Murder are False Flag Attacks

In this example, the claim and act of mass murder is considered a false flag attack because it is more or less used to cause a belief that these murders are staged to impress the public and control the gun issuing and removing guns from the public hands. Therefore, it would be pseudoscience because it has no base in science but it is mysteriously disconnected and does not follow logically as a scientific methodology would if there was a concrete reason why it would be connective to science.

The material that was discussed was intriguing because it causes a new type of analysis to be done by using the principles of the Baloney Detection Kit to disregard this and evaluate that which causes the process of the claim to supported or disregarded. One of the questions that helps are personal beliefs affiliated with this claim and that would be an affirmative that if is similar to a personal vendetta.
http://thesoapboxrantings.blogspot.com/2012/08/embarrassing-conspiracy-theories-acts.html

Determine at least two (2) ways in which the material discussed this week has changed your own thinking.

The material discussed has allowed a new perspective with the amount of scandalous or unsupportive claims is believed and supported by intelligent people who supply large amounts of monies to these so-called ingenious trivia. Further it is quite amusing and distracting and entertaining to evaluate these supposed logical occurrences.

Thank you.

Felicia