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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
4 pages in length. In Part I of Michael Shermer and Stephen Jay Gould's book entitled "Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time," the authors address such principles as scientific rationalism, empiricism, provisional truth, paradigms and
paradigm shifts, uses of evidence, and the skeptic's role in society. Shermer and Gould espouse five primary answers to the title's question, finding that people believe in unsubstantiated things for consolation, immediate
gratification, simplicity, moral meaning and inasmuch as hope springs eternal. The authors effectively demonstrate the errors in understanding that ultimately compel people to cling to such insupportable truths, including the inherent
desire to see patterns without due cause. Illogic,
superstition and unwarranted claims are at the basis of Shermer and Gould's intriguing look at why people believe in esoteric concepts even when proven otherwise. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: LM1_TLCweird.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time, the authors address such principles as scientific rationalism, empiricism, provisional truth, paradigms and paradigm shifts, uses of evidence, and
the skeptics role in society. Shermer and Gould espouse five primary answers to the titles question, finding that people believe in unsubstantiated things for consolation, immediate gratification, simplicity, moral
meaning and inasmuch as hope springs eternal. The authors effectively demonstrate the errors in understanding that ultimately compel people to cling to such insupportable truths, including the inherent desire
to see patterns without due cause. Illogic, superstition and unwarranted claims are at the basis of Shermer and Goulds intriguing look at why people believe in esoteric concepts even
when proven otherwise. "This book is about people who share similar beliefs and hopes yet pursue them by very dissimilar methods. It is about the distinction between science
and pseudoscience, history and pseudohistory, and the difference it makes" (Shermer et al vi). According to Shermer and Gould, the guiding principles and methodologies of the scientist/skeptic are to view
questionable things with a certain dubiousness that still allows one to remain open-minded. Indeed, Shermer has gone through his own experiences with pseudoscience and superstition in his own past,
which has given fuel to his ability to see skepticism for its healthy aspects. In chapter one, the authors take great care in expounding upon the very definition of
skepticism, while chapter two speaks to the boundaries of science. Said Mark Wilson, a geology professor who teaches a pseudo science course at Wooster College in Ohio, "In science,
we dont talk about proof unless its mathematically provable. For an idea to be provable, we have to be able to disprove it" (Fehr-Snyder B3). Shermer and Gould
...