Post by Tamrin on Jan 14, 2012 21:29:08 GMT 10
Seven fallacies of thought and reason
[Excerpts - Article by Dr. Jason Braithwaite, UK Skeptic, 2006 - Linked Above]
[Excerpts - Article by Dr. Jason Braithwaite, UK Skeptic, 2006 - Linked Above]
There are many forms of logical fallacy, errors, and mistakes of reason. In addition to this many fallacies co-exist and network together in yet further complex combinations. The net consequence of this is a conviction and feeling of coherence in the views being held – a sense of things making sense! This feeling of ‘everything making sense’ in the absence of any evidence, logic or reason, is an illusion based in the collective impact of unstructured thought.
The level of the delusion is often far greater than the sum of its underlying parts. The mistakes of thought and reason listed here have been chosen and highlighted on the basis that they are the most common. Therefore, these errors are so prevalent, they have permeated and perverted the public’s perception of science the most.
The seven main fallacies are listed here in reverse order. The order generally relates to the popularity and persuasiveness of that fallacy in general popular science and pseudoscience, with number 7 being the lesser and number 1 being the most popular forms of fallacious thinking and argument. The combined outcome of accepting these fallacies is the same – they all lead to error in thinking. All represent mind-traps in thinking that lead ultimately to either unsound thinking or a completely fictitious characterisation of science and the processes of legitimate scientific argumentation.
The level of the delusion is often far greater than the sum of its underlying parts. The mistakes of thought and reason listed here have been chosen and highlighted on the basis that they are the most common. Therefore, these errors are so prevalent, they have permeated and perverted the public’s perception of science the most.
The seven main fallacies are listed here in reverse order. The order generally relates to the popularity and persuasiveness of that fallacy in general popular science and pseudoscience, with number 7 being the lesser and number 1 being the most popular forms of fallacious thinking and argument. The combined outcome of accepting these fallacies is the same – they all lead to error in thinking. All represent mind-traps in thinking that lead ultimately to either unsound thinking or a completely fictitious characterisation of science and the processes of legitimate scientific argumentation.
Topics (see article for details):
(7) I am entitled to my opinion (used to support the truth of the opinion)...
(6) Argumentum Ad-hominem: Shoot the messenger fallacy...
(5) I’m offended! (A special case of the red-herring fallacy)...
(4) Science cannot explain everything and does not have all the answers...
(3) Science is often wrong, and has been shown to be wrong before, therefore it could be wrong about the paranormal...
(2) Science cannot disprove the paranormal – therefore, this failure is, by default, support for the existence of paranormal phenomena...
(1) Scientists and skeptics are closed-minded and are not open to other possibilities (not open-minded)...
Discussion
In recent years, pseudoscience has sought to undermine scientific knowledge by attacking science itself. This has led to a growing misperception amongst members of the public and some science students about what science is and how it does what it does. Many myths are propagated by popular science and pseudoscience with the explicit intention of undermining science. This paper has outlined what are perhaps some of the most popular and common arguments gaining currency in the public domain. These errors are united by both their fallacious form and the misrepresentation of the science they seek to attack. Science may not be perfect, but it is the best system we have. Pseudoscience has nothing to offer in terms of scientific truth and understanding. It seeks to delude and provide false hope. In contrast, science tackles how things are, not how we want them to be. This paper has highlighted potent errors in argument from pseudoscience with the aim of showing clearly why they simply do not work as viable challenges to science.
In recent years, pseudoscience has sought to undermine scientific knowledge by attacking science itself. This has led to a growing misperception amongst members of the public and some science students about what science is and how it does what it does. Many myths are propagated by popular science and pseudoscience with the explicit intention of undermining science. This paper has outlined what are perhaps some of the most popular and common arguments gaining currency in the public domain. These errors are united by both their fallacious form and the misrepresentation of the science they seek to attack. Science may not be perfect, but it is the best system we have. Pseudoscience has nothing to offer in terms of scientific truth and understanding. It seeks to delude and provide false hope. In contrast, science tackles how things are, not how we want them to be. This paper has highlighted potent errors in argument from pseudoscience with the aim of showing clearly why they simply do not work as viable challenges to science.
