Book Reviews: Skepticism, Critical Thinking, Paranormal Beliefs
Society today requires science more than at any time in the past. Unfortunately, people today are often scientifically illiterate - they don't understand science and they don't understand how to think skeptically. Every year there are hundreds of books published which deal with science and skepticism, some of which deserve a closer look. A few of those are reviewed here on this site. Find out more about these books and also the skeptical, scientific approach to nature.
Don't Believe Everything You Think: The 6 Basic Mistakes We Make in Thinking
If you care about truth, then you have to care about being able to reliably differentiate between truth and falsehood. Figuring out how to do that, however, isn't always easy. A major problem with this is the fact that many of our normal habits of thinking which appear to serve us well in day-to-day matters don't really work when it comes to more complicated issues. There is little in modern culture which encourages people to do a better job with this task, and this harms us all.
If you care about truth, then you have to care about being able to reliably differentiate between truth and falsehood. Figuring out how to do that, however, isn't always easy. A major problem with this is the fact that many of our normal habits of thinking which appear to serve us well in day-to-day matters don't really work when it comes to more complicated issues. There is little in modern culture which encourages people to do a better job with this task, and this harms us all.
The Cult of Alien Gods: H.P. Lovecraft And Extraterrestrials
One of the most popular subjects among believers in the paranormal today isn't astrology or psychics, but so-called 'alternative' archaeology. One of the most common beliefs in this subject is that aliens visited Earth millennia ago and helped create human civilization and culture, or perhaps humanity itself.
One of the most popular subjects among believers in the paranormal today isn't astrology or psychics, but so-called 'alternative' archaeology. One of the most common beliefs in this subject is that aliens visited Earth millennia ago and helped create human civilization and culture, or perhaps humanity itself.
Truth, Knowledge, Or Just Plain Bull
There are many different claims out there vying for our attention and acceptance. We encounter claims in politics, religion, and of course advertising. Some claims are true or at least reasonable, but many are wrong if not outright lies. How can we reliably separate the two? How can we learn to think clearly enough to differentiate between true and false ideas?
There are many different claims out there vying for our attention and acceptance. We encounter claims in politics, religion, and of course advertising. Some claims are true or at least reasonable, but many are wrong if not outright lies. How can we reliably separate the two? How can we learn to think clearly enough to differentiate between true and false ideas?
Homeopathy: How It Really Works
Homeopathy is one of the most popular of the various alternative medical treatments, bringing in around USD $1.5 billion a year. It's also one of the oldest, having been created by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the mid-19th century. Considering its age and popularity, is there anything at all to the treatments? Do they work?
Homeopathy is one of the most popular of the various alternative medical treatments, bringing in around USD $1.5 billion a year. It's also one of the oldest, having been created by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the mid-19th century. Considering its age and popularity, is there anything at all to the treatments? Do they work?
The Killing of History
Is it possible to write anything approaching an objective or rational history, or are the lines between history and myth or history and fiction just arbitrary, cultural distinctions? Is the rational, critical method of historiography really just a new form of Western imperialism, determined to gain authority and control over the stories of the rest of the world?
Is it possible to write anything approaching an objective or rational history, or are the lines between history and myth or history and fiction just arbitrary, cultural distinctions? Is the rational, critical method of historiography really just a new form of Western imperialism, determined to gain authority and control over the stories of the rest of the world?
Skeptical Odysseys: Personal Accounts by Leading Paranormal Inquirers
Skepticism, whether it be focused upon political ideologies, religious doctrines, or paranormal beliefs, is not exactly a popular position. Skeptics are criticized for being cynics, for attacking tradition, and for being humorless. Despite this, quite a few people have championed the ideal of skepticism and of critical thinking. Who are they and why do they buck tradition?
Skepticism, whether it be focused upon political ideologies, religious doctrines, or paranormal beliefs, is not exactly a popular position. Skeptics are criticized for being cynics, for attacking tradition, and for being humorless. Despite this, quite a few people have championed the ideal of skepticism and of critical thinking. Who are they and why do they buck tradition?
The Philosopher's Toolkit: Philosophical Concepts and Methods
If you spend much time discussing religion, politics, and philosophy, you'll quickly find that if you want to get anywhere you'll need to acquire some skill when it comes to analyzing, understanding, and refuting basic arguments - and that's all before you learn how to properly construct your own. But just where do you go to get such skills?
If you spend much time discussing religion, politics, and philosophy, you'll quickly find that if you want to get anywhere you'll need to acquire some skill when it comes to analyzing, understanding, and refuting basic arguments - and that's all before you learn how to properly construct your own. But just where do you go to get such skills?
Hoaxes, Myths, and Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking
People think all the time - it is an important part of human existence, after all. Critical thinking, though, requires some training and practice. People can go about their daily lives without extensive critical thinking abilities, but this can be unfortunate because when done well, skepticism can do a lot to enhance human existence. How can people improve their critical thinking skills?
People think all the time - it is an important part of human existence, after all. Critical thinking, though, requires some training and practice. People can go about their daily lives without extensive critical thinking abilities, but this can be unfortunate because when done well, skepticism can do a lot to enhance human existence. How can people improve their critical thinking skills?
Thinking from A to Z
Critical, skeptical thinking isn't easy. It's not that it's unnatural, but credulous attitudes are easier to adopt and maintain because they take less work. Skepticism requires some training, patience, and above all practice. Most of those who seek out such training and practice are involved in scholarly studies like philosophy, but everyone could benefit from them as well. Where can one start?
Critical, skeptical thinking isn't easy. It's not that it's unnatural, but credulous attitudes are easier to adopt and maintain because they take less work. Skepticism requires some training, patience, and above all practice. Most of those who seek out such training and practice are involved in scholarly studies like philosophy, but everyone could benefit from them as well. Where can one start?
Pseudoscience and the Paranormal
One of the things that makes skepticism so difficult is the fact that there are simply so many paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs out there to be skeptical about. It is difficult to become reasonably familiar with even one or two of these beliefs, but how can anyone be familiar enough to be able to offer a skeptical rebuttal to the claims of dozens?
One of the things that makes skepticism so difficult is the fact that there are simply so many paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs out there to be skeptical about. It is difficult to become reasonably familiar with even one or two of these beliefs, but how can anyone be familiar enough to be able to offer a skeptical rebuttal to the claims of dozens?
What are the Odds? The Chances of Extraordinary Events
We can see the use of statistics in a variety of aspects of our lives. In the news especially we encounter statistics - for example, about how certain behaviors will make us more likely to get a disease, about likely we are to die on the job, or even the odds of an asteroid hitting the earth and killing us. But what do all of these statistics really mean?
We can see the use of statistics in a variety of aspects of our lives. In the news especially we encounter statistics - for example, about how certain behaviors will make us more likely to get a disease, about likely we are to die on the job, or even the odds of an asteroid hitting the earth and killing us. But what do all of these statistics really mean?
Healing Yourself with Wishful Thinking
Can meditation really help you achieve optimum physical and psychological health? Can you really get in touch with a spirit guide who will help you make the right decisions in life? Can wishful thinking really make you better looking, richer, and cure your acne? Is self-delusion the key rather than an obstacle to happiness?
Can meditation really help you achieve optimum physical and psychological health? Can you really get in touch with a spirit guide who will help you make the right decisions in life? Can wishful thinking really make you better looking, richer, and cure your acne? Is self-delusion the key rather than an obstacle to happiness?
How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age
Belief in paranormal, supernatural and mysterious claims are very popular in society today - indeed, they have always been popular, with some particular beliefs rising and falling like fads. But how are we to approach such claims and evaluate their credibility? What tools and principles should we employ in dealing with obviously weird things that come up in life?
Belief in paranormal, supernatural and mysterious claims are very popular in society today - indeed, they have always been popular, with some particular beliefs rising and falling like fads. But how are we to approach such claims and evaluate their credibility? What tools and principles should we employ in dealing with obviously weird things that come up in life?
Flat Earth? Round Earth?
Epistemology is a difficult subject. How do we know what we know - and indeed, how can we know anything at all? Assuming that we can know anything, is there any way to ground that knowledge rationally? Is there any value to insisting on rational beliefs, or are any ad hoc explanations sufficient? As difficult as these questions are, how can they possibly be addressed in a children's book?
Epistemology is a difficult subject. How do we know what we know - and indeed, how can we know anything at all? Assuming that we can know anything, is there any way to ground that knowledge rationally? Is there any value to insisting on rational beliefs, or are any ad hoc explanations sufficient? As difficult as these questions are, how can they possibly be addressed in a children's book?
Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
Are irrationality and superstition bringing the modern world to the brink of a new Dark Age? Can the proper use of skepticism and critical thinking keep us away from that brink and ensure that the promises of reason and science are actually fulfilled? These are the themes of Carl Sagan's book, which is not simply a polemic against irrationality, but also a hopeful manifesto for the future.
Are irrationality and superstition bringing the modern world to the brink of a new Dark Age? Can the proper use of skepticism and critical thinking keep us away from that brink and ensure that the promises of reason and science are actually fulfilled? These are the themes of Carl Sagan's book, which is not simply a polemic against irrationality, but also a hopeful manifesto for the future.
Denying History: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened
Did the Holocaust happen? For many if not most people, the answer to this question is an easy "yes." But there are a few who insist "no," that the Holocaust did not happen and that there was no systematic, organized effort to exterminate the Jews in Europe. Why do people argue this, and who are they?
Did the Holocaust happen? For many if not most people, the answer to this question is an easy "yes." But there are a few who insist "no," that the Holocaust did not happen and that there was no systematic, organized effort to exterminate the Jews in Europe. Why do people argue this, and who are they?
Why People Believe Weird Things
We live in an age of science and progress, seemingly far beyond the ancient world where superstition and occult beliefs dominated. But if that is really true, why do so many people still believe strange, pseudoscientific claims about things like past-life regression, alien abductions, creationism, and more?
We live in an age of science and progress, seemingly far beyond the ancient world where superstition and occult beliefs dominated. But if that is really true, why do so many people still believe strange, pseudoscientific claims about things like past-life regression, alien abductions, creationism, and more?
Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe
Book Review: 'Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe,' by Karl T. Pflock, Jerry Pournelle. So what really did happen in Roswell, New Mexico back in 1947? According to popular legend, a UFO crashed, and from the wreckage, the United States government obtained the bodies of dead aliens and all sorts of advanced technology.
Book Review: 'Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe,' by Karl T. Pflock, Jerry Pournelle. So what really did happen in Roswell, New Mexico back in 1947? According to popular legend, a UFO crashed, and from the wreckage, the United States government obtained the bodies of dead aliens and all sorts of advanced technology.
Merely Mortal? Can You Survive Your Own Death?
What happens when we die? Is that the end for us - the end of experience, the end of living? Or is it rather correct to say that somehow, something of us survives - that we "live" on in some fashion and do not really encounter an final or total end of ourselves?
What happens when we die? Is that the end for us - the end of experience, the end of living? Or is it rather correct to say that somehow, something of us survives - that we "live" on in some fashion and do not really encounter an final or total end of ourselves?