Pseudoscience

The Varieties of Pseudoarchaeology

by David S. Anderson

by David S. Anderson and Jeb J. Card, presented in the session, "Answering Pseudoarchaeology: Proactive dialogue and research in response to extraordinary popular and esoteric archaeological claims" at the 77th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Memphis, Tennessee

Professional archeologists have long lumped pseudoarchaeological theories into a single category of unsubstantiated... more Professional archeologists have long lumped pseudoarchaeological theories into a single category of unsubstantiated “bunk,” yet a closer examination reveals that there is tremendous variety in these theories and in the people that hold them. Building upon a recent survey of American beliefs in the paranormal, we examine the relationship between the content and structure of pseudoarchaeological beliefs, and the intensity that they are believed in or practiced. These factors are critical to guiding archaeologists to better understanding and interacting (or not interacting) with creators or promoters of pseudoarchaeology, and more importantly, a general public looking for answers.

Theophrastus on lyngurium: Medieval and early modern lore from the classical lapidary tradition

by Steven Walton

Annals of Science, 58 (2001), 357-79

Handout Biblical Pseudoscholarship

by Jan Krans

Used for the evening discussion of the NOSTER training days, april 2011. Contact me for more information.

PROBLEMS OF TEACHING BIBLICAL CREATIONISM AT SCHOOLS

by Svetoslav Alexandrov

Published in "SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGIES", 2011, Publisher "Union of Scientists - Stara Zagora"

In Bulgaria, the theory of Evolution is taught in high school biology courses. Biblical creationism is a commonly held... more In Bulgaria, the theory of Evolution is taught in high school biology courses. Biblical creationism is a commonly held belief that the Earth and all living organisms were created by God in six days. Creationism supporters claim that the age of the Earth is 6 000 years and the evolutionary process called specitation does not exist. This study suggests that biblical creationism is pseudoscience and should not be taught in high school biology courses. The study, however, shows that teaching religious ideals is acceptable in secular schools.

Elio Jucci, «L’arca dell’alleanza», in La Filosofia di Indiana Jones a cura di Claudio Bonvecchio (Il Caffè dei Filosofi 21), Mimesis 2011, 135-148

by Elio Jucci

Elio Jucci, «L’arca dell’alleanza», in La Filosofia di Indiana Jones a cura di Claudio Bonvecchio (Il Caffè dei Filosofi 21), Mimesis 2011, 135-148

Book Review - The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012 (Aveni) and 2012: Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya (Van Stone)

by John Hoopes

Archaeoastronomy 22 (2009)

A Critical History of 2012 Mythology

by John Hoopes

Proceedings of the International Astronomy Union 7 (2011)

‘Inside-Out: Texture and Belief in George Eliot’s “Bubble-World”’

by Stella Pratt-Smith

George Eliot-George Henry Lewes Studies, 60: 1 (September, 2012)

This article proposes that, in her later writings, George Eliot’s thinking developed considerably beyond a simple... more This article proposes that, in her later writings, George Eliot’s thinking developed considerably beyond a simple rejection of religion as “self-deception” and began to make wider, philosophical explorations of a range of viewpoints. Instead of drawing on her much-celebrated novels, the article examines two of the shorter poems from the last decade of her life: “A Minor Prophet” and “I Grant You Ample Leave.” These works represent poetic continuations of her rationalist crusade, against what she described as the general reader’s “spongy texture of mind”, and demonstrate her uniquely personal, informed, and satirical response to emerging contemporary sciences, the whims of pseudo-intellectual fashions, and the implications of both for atheism.

Conference Session - Answering Pseudoarchaeology: Proactive dialogue and research in response to extraordinary popular and esoteric archaeological claims

by David S. Anderson

Session Submitted for the 77th annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Memphis, Tennessee, April 18th to 22nd, 2012

Organized by David S. Anderson and Jeb J. Card

In popular media and culture, extraordinary and esoteric claims, dubbed “pseudoarchaeology,” dominate the image of the... more In popular media and culture, extraordinary and esoteric claims, dubbed “pseudoarchaeology,” dominate the image of the human past. The success of these alternative narratives demonstrates a latent interest in archaeology that the scientific community has not been able to satisfy. Past efforts to confront pseudoarchaeological claims have focused on dismissal and redirection to questions of more viable research interest to scholars, a tactic that has not borne much fruit. This session instead points to a more proactive model of research and presentation directly aimed at the “alternative” questions regarding the human past that are popular in public discourse.

Magic and Mesmerism in Saint Domingue

by Kieran Murphy

Paroles Gelées: UCLA French Studies 24 (2008): 31-48.

Auxiliary Assumptions, Unification, and Intelligent Design: A Defense of Contrastive Testability

by Sebastian Lutz

Draft

Boudry and Leuridan argue that in a number of cases—and specifically in the case of intelligent design—a theory can be... more Boudry and Leuridan argue that in a number of cases—and specifically in the case of intelligent design—a theory can be intuitively testable, but not contrastively testable according to Sober’s definition. I argue that their purported counterexamples rely on misunderstandings of the concept of contrastive testability and the version of intelligent design criticized by Sober. I also argue that the liberalization of contrastive testability suggested by Boudry and Leuridan is trivial.

More on Vardaman's Microletters

by Richard Carrier

Skeptical Inquirer 26.4 (Jul/Aug 2002): 60-61.

Follow up to previous article providing new information that came to light after the original article appeared,... more Follow up to previous article providing new information that came to light after the original article appeared, including enlarged photographs of the coin in contention acquired from the British Museum.

Pseudohistory in Jerry Vardaman's Magic Coins: The Nonsense of Micrographic Letters

by Richard Carrier

Skeptical Inquirer 26.2 (Mar-Apr 2002): 39-41, 61.

Analyzes the arguments and evidence presented by the late Jerry Vardaman who claimed microscopic inscriptions on coins... more Analyzes the arguments and evidence presented by the late Jerry Vardaman who claimed microscopic inscriptions on coins and stones completely rewrite early Christian history. See also the important follow-up article (next).

A Numerical Kano Model for compliance customer needs with product development, IEMS, 10(2) pp140-153

by MD. Mamunur Rashid

Md Mamunur Rashid †,
Faculty, Bangladesh Institute of Management, 4, Sobhanbag, Mirpur Road, Dhaka-1207, (bim.org.bd), and
Presently working at Graduate School of Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami, Hokkaido-090-8507, JAPAN
E-mail:mamun87245@gmail.com; dse10831@std.kitami-it.ac.jp

Jun’ichi Tamaki, A.M.M. Sharif Ullah, and Akihiko KUBO
Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami, Hokkaido 090-8507, JAPAN
E-mail: {tamaju, ullah,kuboak}@mail.kitami-it.ac.jp

Abstract. Functional form and dysfunctional form of Kano model are considered as customer need regarding attribute of... more Abstract. Functional form and dysfunctional form of Kano model are considered as customer need regarding attribute of product. Both functional and dysfunctional forms are: Like, Must-be Neutral, Live-with and Dislike. The answers of customer regarding a product of functional and dysfunctional forms have been applied for selection of customer needs regarding product attribute (Kano evaluation). Filling–up and returning the Questionnaires by the individuals are essential for determining Kano evaluation. But many Questionnaires have not been returned in that case. Moreover, many possible consumers could not get opportunity to fill-up questionnaire. These uncertain or unknown consumers’ opinions are also essential for product development. The choices of Kano evaluations have been outlined by: Attractive, One-dimensional, Must-be, Indifferent and Reverse. In this study, choices of evaluation of unknown customer are considered uniform cumulative vector probability (scenario 1). This study is based on the Monte Carlo simulation method, concept of probability and Kano model. This model has also been tested for its soundness and found fairly consistent including existing Kano model (scenario 2) and case survey for headlight of bicycle (scenario 3).

Keywords: Kano Model, Probability, Product Attributes, Customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

Empiricism and Intelligent Design II: Analyzing Intelligent Design

by Sebastian Lutz

Draft

If intelligent design (ID) is to compete with evolutionary theory (ET), it must meet the modified falsifiability... more If intelligent design (ID) is to compete with evolutionary theory (ET), it must meet the modified falsifiability challenge, that is, make some deductive or probabilistic observational assertions. It must also meet the modified translatability challenge, which it fails if ET makes all the observational assertions of ID, while ID does not make all the observational assertions of ET. I discuss four prominent and surprisingly diverse formulations of ID and show that each either fails one of the two challenges or is analytically false.

Empiricism and Intelligent Design I: Three Empiricist Challenges

by Sebastian Lutz

Draft

Due to the logical relations between theism and intelligent design (ID), there are two challenges to theism that also... more Due to the logical relations between theism and intelligent design (ID), there are two challenges to theism that also apply to ID. In the falsifiability challenge, it is charged that theism is compatible with every observation statement and thus asserts nothing. I argue that the contentious assumptions of this challenge can be avoided without loss of precision by charging theism (and thus ID) directly with the lack of observational assertions. In the translatability challenge, it is charged that theism can be translated into a (non-theistic) set of observation statements without loss of cognitive content. I argue that the contentious assumptions of this challenge are avoided by the related charge that the (non-theistic) evolutionary theory makes all the observational assertions of ID, while the converse does not hold. Elliott Sober has argued that ID meets the falsifiability challenge, but, since it makes almost no observational assertions, is not testable. I point out two problems with Sober’s argument and show that ID is both deductively and probabilistically testable. Sober’s argument, I suggest, inconsistently combines the modified falsifiability challenge with the modified translatability challenge. If his claims about ID’s observational assertions are true, however, ID succumbs to the modified translatability challenge.

On an Allegedly Essential Feature of Criteria for the Demarcation of Science

by Sebastian Lutz

Published in The Reasoner 5(8), August 2011.

Laudan’s argument against the possibility of a demarcation criterion for scientific theories rests on establishing that... more Laudan’s argument against the possibility of a demarcation criterion for scientific theories rests on establishing that any criterion must be a necessary and sufficient condition. But Laudan’s argument at most establishes that any criterion must provide a necessary condition and a possibly different sufficient condition. His own claims suggest that such a criterion is possible.

“Bucca Redivivus: History, Folklore and the Construction of Ethnic Identity within Modern Pagan Witchcraft in Cornwall.”

by Jason Semmens

Published in Cornish Studies 18 (2010) pp. 141–161.

Seven Fallacies of Thought and Reason: Common Errors in Reasoning and Argument from Pseudoscience

by Dr Jason J Braithwaite

Critical thinking teaching resources