Pseudoscience

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Pseudoscience

Allison B. Kaufman,James C. Kaufman
Pseudoscience Book PDF

Author : Allison B. Kaufman,James C. Kaufman
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 537 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2019-03-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262537049

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Pseudoscience by Allison B. Kaufman,James C. Kaufman Pdf

Case studies, personal accounts, and analysis show how to recognize and combat pseudoscience in a post-truth world. In a post-truth, fake news world, we are particularly susceptible to the claims of pseudoscience. When emotions and opinions are more widely disseminated than scientific findings, and self-proclaimed experts get their expertise from Google, how can the average person distinguish real science from fake? This book examines pseudoscience from a variety of perspectives, through case studies, analysis, and personal accounts that show how to recognize pseudoscience, why it is so widely accepted, and how to advocate for real science. Contributors examine the basics of pseudoscience, including issues of cognitive bias; the costs of pseudoscience, with accounts of naturopathy and logical fallacies in the anti-vaccination movement; perceptions of scientific soundness; the mainstream presence of “integrative medicine,” hypnosis, and parapsychology; and the use of case studies and new media in science advocacy. Contributors David Ball, Paul Joseph Barnett, Jeffrey Beall, Mark Benisz, Fernando Blanco, Ron Dumont, Stacy Ellenberg, Kevin M. Folta, Christopher French, Ashwin Gautam, Dennis M. Gorman, David H. Gorski, David K. Hecht, Britt Marie Hermes, Clyde F. Herreid, Jonathan Howard, Seth C. Kalichman, Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, Arnold Kozak, Scott O. Lilienfeld, Emilio Lobato, Steven Lynn, Adam Marcus, Helena Matute, Ivan Oransky, Chad Orzel, Dorit Reiss, Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, Kavin Senapathy, Dean Keith Simonton, Indre Viskontas, John O. Willis, Corrine Zimmerman

Philosophy of Pseudoscience

Massimo Pigliucci,Maarten Boudry
Philosophy of Pseudoscience Book PDF

Author : Massimo Pigliucci,Maarten Boudry
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Page : 479 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2013-08-16
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780226051826

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Philosophy of Pseudoscience by Massimo Pigliucci,Maarten Boudry Pdf

“A remarkable contribution to one of the most vexing problems in science: the ‘demarcation’ problem, or how to distinguish science from nonscience.” —Francisco J. Ayala, author of Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion What sets the practice of rigorously tested, sound science apart from pseudoscience? In this volume, the contributors seek to answer this question, known to philosophers of science as “the demarcation problem.” This issue has a long history in philosophy, stretching as far back as the early twentieth century and the work of Karl Popper. But by the late 1980s, scholars in the field began to treat the demarcation problem as impossible to solve and futile to ponder. However, the essays that Massimo Pigliucci and Maarten Boudry have assembled in this volume make a rousing case for the unequivocal importance of reflecting on the separation between pseudoscience and sound science. Moreover, the demarcation problem is not a purely theoretical dilemma of mere academic interest: it affects parents’ decisions to vaccinate children and governments’ willingness to adopt policies that prevent climate change. Pseudoscience often mimics science, using the superficial language and trappings of actual scientific research to seem more respectable. Even a well-informed public can be taken in by such questionable theories dressed up as science. Pseudoscientific beliefs compete with sound science on the health pages of newspapers for media coverage and in laboratories for research funding. Now more than ever the ability to separate genuine scientific findings from spurious ones is vital, and The Philosophy of Pseudoscience provides ground for philosophers, sociologists, historians, and laypeople to make decisions about what science is or isn’t. “A manual to overcome our natural cognitive biases.” —Corriere della Sera (Italy)

Critical Thinking, Science, and Pseudoscience

Caleb W. Lack, PhD,Jacques Rousseau, MA
Critical Thinking Science and Pseudoscience Book PDF

Author : Caleb W. Lack, PhD,Jacques Rousseau, MA
Publisher : Springer Publishing Company
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2016-03-08
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780826194268

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Critical Thinking, Science, and Pseudoscience by Caleb W. Lack, PhD,Jacques Rousseau, MA Pdf

This unique text for undergraduate courses teaches students to apply critical thinking skills across all academic disciplines by examining popular pseudoscientific claims through a multidisciplinary lens. Rather than merely focusing on critical thinking grounded in philosophy and psychology, the text incorporates the perspectives of biology, physics, medicine, and other disciplines to reinforce different categories of rational explanation. The book is also distinguished by its respectful approach to individuals whose ideas are, according to the authors, deeply flawed. Accessible and engaging, it describes what critical thinking is, why it is important, and how to learn and apply skillsóusing scientific methods--that promote it. The text also examines why critical thinking can be difficult to engage in and explores the psychological and social reasons why people are drawn to and find credence in extraordinary claims. From alien abductions and psychic phenomena to strange creatures and unsupported alternative medical treatments, the text uses examples from a wide range of pseudoscience fields and brings evidence from diverse disciplines to critically examine these erroneous claims. Particularly timely is the text's examination of how, using the narrative of today's "culture wars," religion and culture impact science. The authors focus on how the human brain, rife with natural biases, does not process information in a rational fashion, and the social factors that prevent individuals from gaining an unbiased, critical perspective on information. Authored by a psychologist and a philosopher who have extensive experience teaching and writing on critical thinking and skeptical inquiry, this work will help students to strengthen their skills in reasoning and debate, become intelligent consumers of research, and make well-informed choices as citizens. Key Features: Addresses the foundations of critical thinking and how to apply it through the popular activity of examining pseudoscience Explains why humans are vulnerable to pseudoscientific claims and how critical thinking can overcome fallacies and biases Reinforces critical thinking through multidisciplinary analyses of pseudoscience Examines how religion and culture impact science Enlightens using an engaging, entertaining approach Written by experienced and innovative scholar/educators well known in the skeptic community Features teaching resources including an Instructor's Guide and Powepoint slides

Science and Pseudoscience in Social Work Practice

Dr. Bruce A. Thyer, PhD, LCSW, BCBA-D,Dr. Monica G. Pignotti, PhD, LMSW
Science and Pseudoscience in Social Work Practice Book PDF

Author : Dr. Bruce A. Thyer, PhD, LCSW, BCBA-D,Dr. Monica G. Pignotti, PhD, LMSW
Publisher : Springer Publishing Company
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2015-05-15
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780826177698

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Science and Pseudoscience in Social Work Practice by Dr. Bruce A. Thyer, PhD, LCSW, BCBA-D,Dr. Monica G. Pignotti, PhD, LMSW Pdf

"Science is a way of thinking about and investigating the accuracy of assumptions about the world. It is a process for solving problems in which we learn from our mistakes. Social work has a long history of social reform and helping efforts. Let us continue this by paying attention to the important message of this book. --Eileen Gambrill, PhD, School of Social Welfare University of California at Berkeley (From the Foreword) Although many psychosocial interventions used in social work practice have strong research evidence supporting their efficacy, a surprising number do not, potentially resulting in harmful outcomes. In this book, the authors cast a critical eye on the reality of commonly used scientific and pseudoscientific practices in social work today. Stressing the need for separating research-based practices from those not supported by adequate levels of evidence, they examine the scientific and pseudoscientific bases for popular social work interventions used in a variety of treatment settings. The text examines the misuse of legitimate research and describes how social work education training can and should discourage pseudoscience. The concluding chapter describes pathways through which social work practice can become more firmly grounded in contemporary scientific research. This engaging book is intended for courses in critical thinking and evidence-based practice and is a valuable resource for all social work students and practitioners. Key Features: Promotes critical thinking regarding the evidence-based research--or lack thereof--behind a variety of social work interventions Written by renowned social work educators Addresses the history and characteristics of pseudoscience Examines pseudoscience practices in assessment and work with children, adolescents, adults, and individuals with developmental difficulties

Science Versus Pseudoscience

Nathan Aaseng
Science Versus Pseudoscience Book PDF

Author : Nathan Aaseng
Publisher : Franklin Watts
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 1994
Category : Pseudoscience
ISBN : 0531111822

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Science Versus Pseudoscience by Nathan Aaseng Pdf

Tells how to determine what is science, and looks at areas of conflict between science and pseudoscience, including the mind, the body, creation science, and astrology

Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, First Edition

Scott O. Lilienfeld,Steven Jay Lynn,Jeffrey M. Lohr
Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology First Edition Book PDF

Author : Scott O. Lilienfeld,Steven Jay Lynn,Jeffrey M. Lohr
Publisher : Guilford Press
Page : 498 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2012-12-18
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781462509027

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Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, First Edition by Scott O. Lilienfeld,Steven Jay Lynn,Jeffrey M. Lohr Pdf

This is the first major text designed to help professionals and students evaluate the merits of popular yet controversial practices in clinical psychology, differentiating those that can stand up to the rigors of science from those that cannot. Leading researchers review widely used therapies for alcoholism, infantile autism, ADHD, and posttraumatic stress disorder; herbal remedies for depression and anxiety; suggestive techniques for memory recovery; and self-help models. Other topics covered include issues surrounding psychological expert testimony, the uses of projective assessment techniques, and unanswered questions about dissociative identity disorder. Providing knowledge to guide truly accountable mental health practice, the volume also imparts critical skills for designing and evaluating psychological research programs. It is ideal for use in advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and evidence-based practice.

The Pseudoscience Wars

Michael D. Gordin
The Pseudoscience Wars Book PDF

Author : Michael D. Gordin
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Page : 303 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2012-09-17
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780226304434

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The Pseudoscience Wars by Michael D. Gordin Pdf

Properly analyzed, the collective mythological and religious writings of humanity reveal that around 1500 BC, a comet swept perilously close to Earth, triggering widespread natural disasters and threatening the destruction of all life before settling into solar orbit as Venus, our nearest planetary neighbor. Sound implausible? Well, from 1950 until the late 1970s, a huge number of people begged to differ, as they devoured Immanuel Velikovsky’s major best-seller, Worlds in Collision, insisting that perhaps this polymathic thinker held the key to a new science and a new history. Scientists, on the other hand, assaulted Velikovsky’s book, his followers, and his press mercilessly from the get-go. In The Pseudoscience Wars, Michael D. Gordin resurrects the largely forgotten figure of Velikovsky and uses his strange career and surprisingly influential writings to explore the changing definitions of the line that separates legitimate scientific inquiry from what is deemed bunk, and to show how vital this question remains to us today. Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished material from Velikovsky’s personal archives, Gordin presents a behind-the-scenes history of the writer’s career, from his initial burst of success through his growing influence on the counterculture, heated public battles with such luminaries as Carl Sagan, and eventual eclipse. Along the way, he offers fascinating glimpses into the histories and effects of other fringe doctrines, including creationism, Lysenkoism, parapsychology, and more—all of which have surprising connections to Velikovsky’s theories. Science today is hardly universally secure, and scientists seem themselves beset by critics, denialists, and those they label “pseudoscientists”—as seen all too clearly in battles over evolution and climate change. The Pseudoscience Wars simultaneously reveals the surprising Cold War roots of our contemporary dilemma and points readers to a different approach to drawing the line between knowledge and nonsense.

Why People Believe Weird Things

Michael Shermer
Why People Believe Weird Things Book PDF

Author : Michael Shermer
Publisher : Holt Paperbacks
Page : 384 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2002-09-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 1429996765

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Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer Pdf

Revised and Expanded Edition. In this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, many people still believe in mind reading, past-life regression theory, New Age hokum, and alien abduction. A no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, with more than 80,000 copies in print, Why People Believe Weird Things debunks these nonsensical claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. In an entirely new chapter, "Why Smart People Believe in Weird Things," Michael Shermer takes on science luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler and others, who hide their spiritual beliefs behind the trappings of science. Shermer, science historian and true crusader, also reveals the more dangerous side of such illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, the satanic ritual abuse scare, and other modern crazes. Why People Believe Strange Things is an eye-opening resource for the most gullible among us and those who want to protect them.

The Scientific Attitude

Lee McIntyre
The Scientific Attitude Book PDF

Author : Lee McIntyre
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 291 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2019-05-07
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262039833

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The Scientific Attitude by Lee McIntyre Pdf

An argument that what makes science distinctive is its emphasis on evidence and scientists' willingness to change theories on the basis of new evidence. Attacks on science have become commonplace. Claims that climate change isn't settled science, that evolution is “only a theory,” and that scientists are conspiring to keep the truth about vaccines from the public are staples of some politicians' rhetorical repertoire. Defenders of science often point to its discoveries (penicillin! relativity!) without explaining exactly why scientific claims are superior. In this book, Lee McIntyre argues that what distinguishes science from its rivals is what he calls “the scientific attitude”—caring about evidence and being willing to change theories on the basis of new evidence. The history of science is littered with theories that were scientific but turned out to be wrong; the scientific attitude reveals why even a failed theory can help us to understand what is special about science. McIntyre offers examples that illustrate both scientific success (a reduction in childbed fever in the nineteenth century) and failure (the flawed “discovery” of cold fusion in the twentieth century). He describes the transformation of medicine from a practice based largely on hunches into a science based on evidence; considers scientific fraud; examines the positions of ideology-driven denialists, pseudoscientists, and “skeptics” who reject scientific findings; and argues that social science, no less than natural science, should embrace the scientific attitude. McIntyre argues that the scientific attitude—the grounding of science in evidence—offers a uniquely powerful tool in the defense of science.

Pseudoscience and the Paranormal

Terence Hines
Pseudoscience and the Paranormal Book PDF

Author : Terence Hines
Publisher : Prometheus Books
Page : 516 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2010-09-30
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN : 9781615920853

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Pseudoscience and the Paranormal by Terence Hines Pdf

Television, the movies, and computer games fill the minds of their viewers with a daily staple of fantasy, from tales of UFO landings, haunted houses, and communication with the dead to claims of miraculous cures by gifted healers or breakthrough treatments by means of fringe medicine. The paranormal is so ubiquitous in one form of entertainment or another that many people easily lose sight of the distinction between the real and the imaginary, or they never learn to make the distinction in the first place. In this thorough review of pseudoscience and the paranormal in contemporary life, psychologist Terence Hines teaches readers how to carefully evaluate all such claims in terms of scientific evidence.Hines devotes separate chapters to psychics; life after death; parapsychology; astrology; UFOs; ancient astronauts, cosmic collisions, and the Bermuda Triangle; faith healing; and more. New to this second edition are extended sections on psychoanalysis and pseudopsychologies, especially recovered memory therapy, satanic ritual abuse, facilitated communication, and other questionable psychotherapies. There are also new chapters on alternative medicine, which is now marketed in our drug stores, and on environmental pseudoscience, with special emphasis on the evidence that certain technologies like cell phones or environmental agents like asbestos cause cancer.Finally, Hines discusses the psychological causes for belief in the paranormal despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This valuable, highly interesting, and completely accessible analysis critiques the whole range of current paranormal claims.

Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, Second Edition

Scott O. Lilienfeld,Steven Jay Lynn,Jeffrey M. Lohr
Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology Second Edition Book PDF

Author : Scott O. Lilienfeld,Steven Jay Lynn,Jeffrey M. Lohr
Publisher : Guilford Publications
Page : 578 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2014-10-12
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781462517510

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Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, Second Edition by Scott O. Lilienfeld,Steven Jay Lynn,Jeffrey M. Lohr Pdf

This valued resource helps practitioners and students evaluate the merits of popular yet controversial practices in clinical psychology and allied fields, and base treatment decisions on the best available research. Leading authorities review widely used therapies for a range of child, adolescent, and adult disorders, differentiating between those that can stand up to the rigors of science and those that cannot. Questionable assessment and diagnostic techniques and self-help models are also examined. The volume provides essential skills for thinking critically as a practitioner, evaluating the validity of scientific claims, and steering clear of treatments that are ineffective or even harmful. New to This Edition *Reflects the significant growth of evidence-based practices in the last decade. *Updated throughout with the latest treatment research. *Chapter on attachment therapy. *Chapter on controversial interventions for child and adolescent antisocial behavior. *Addresses changes in DSM-5.

Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal

Jonathan C. Smith
Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal Book PDF

Author : Jonathan C. Smith
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 287 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2011-09-26
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781444358940

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Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal by Jonathan C. Smith Pdf

Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal: A Critical Thinker's Toolkit provides readers with a variety of "reality-checking" tools to analyze extraordinary claims and to determine their validity. Integrates simple yet powerful evaluative tools used by both paranormal believers and skeptics alike Introduces innovations such as a continuum for ranking paranormal claims and evaluating their implications Includes an innovative "Critical Thinker's Toolkit," a systematic approach for performing reality checks on paranormal claims related to astrology, psychics, spiritualism, parapsychology, dream telepathy, mind-over-matter, prayer, life after death, creationism, and more Explores the five alternative hypotheses to consider when confronting a paranormal claim“/li> Reality Check boxes, integrated into the text, invite students to engage in further discussion and examination of claims Written in a lively, engaging style for students and general readers alike Ancillaries: Testbank and PowerPoint slides available at www.wiley.com/go/pseudoscience

Pseudoscience and Science Fiction

Andrew May
Pseudoscience and Science Fiction Book PDF

Author : Andrew May
Publisher : Springer
Page : 181 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2016-09-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783319426051

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Pseudoscience and Science Fiction by Andrew May Pdf

Aliens, flying saucers, ESP, the Bermuda Triangle, antigravity ... are we talking about science fiction or pseudoscience? Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference. Both pseudoscience and science fiction (SF) are creative endeavours that have little in common with academic science, beyond the superficial trappings of jargon and subject matter. The most obvious difference between the two is that pseudoscience is presented as fact, not fiction. Yet like SF, and unlike real science, pseudoscience is driven by a desire to please an audience – in this case, people who “want to believe”. This has led to significant cross-fertilization between the two disciplines. SF authors often draw on “real” pseudoscientific theories to add verisimilitude to their stories, while on other occasions pseudoscience takes its cue from SF – the symbiotic relationship between ufology and Hollywood being a prime example of this. This engagingly written, well researched and richly illustrated text explores a wide range of intriguing similarities and differences between pseudoscience and the fictional science found in SF. Andrew May has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and a PhD in astrophysics from Manchester University. After many years in academia and the private sector, he now works as a freelance writer and scientific consultant. He has written pocket biographies of Newton and Einstein, as well as contributing to a number of popular science books. He has a lifelong interest in science fiction, and has had several articles published in Fortean Times magazine

Invasion Biology

David I. Theodoropoulos
Invasion Biology Book PDF

Author : David I. Theodoropoulos
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 236 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2003-01-01
Category : Animal introduction
ISBN : 0970850417

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Invasion Biology by David I. Theodoropoulos Pdf

"Case studies of the effects of human dispersal of organisms on other organisms and the attitudes of individuals, groups and agencies toward the phenomina. The auther investigates whether introductions of species into new regions actually cause harm, and that damage blamed on excotics may be a result of industrialisation. This and the psycology of racism and xenophobia that prevail in nativism are also explored."

Debunked!

Georges Charpak,Henri Broch
Debunked Book PDF

Author : Georges Charpak,Henri Broch
Publisher : JHU Press
Page : 170 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2004-04-29
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN : 0801878675

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Debunked! by Georges Charpak,Henri Broch Pdf

During the most scientifically advanced period in human history, belief in the paranormal and the supernatural is alarmingly common. Nobel Prize winner Georges Charpak and physics professor Henri Broch team up to show you the tricks of the trade and sleight of hand that keep astrologers, TV psychics, and spoon benders in business. Using only the simplest of science, the authors explore the effectiveness of horoscopes--the blander the better--and why, with a television audience in the millions, any strange, unlikely prediction is almost certain to come true. Not merely an exposé of magic tricks, this book demonstrates how pseudoscientists use science, statistics, and psychology to bamboozle an audience--sometimes for fun, sometimes for profit. Entertaining and enlightening, Debunked! is the antidote, vigorously asserting the virtues of doubt, skepticism, curiosity, and scientific knowledge.--From publisher description.