Just a footnote on the Carl Sagan book, The Demon Haunted World. [
www.xenu.net]
That book is not about space or astronomy, its about how to tell accurate knowledge, from delusion, nonsense, lies, and deception.
Its about critical thinking.
And he goes through almost everything, from "Quantum Physics", "miracle healings", and frankly many of the exact kinds of bunk James Ray peddles.
He gives a Baloney Detection Kit [
www.xenu.net] as mentioned many times.
And its written in a way that anyone can understand, it was written for the general public.
The basic idea is to approach any type of person like James Ray who is "selling" something, and approach him like you would a used car dealer. Does anyone believe what a used car dealer is telling you about that car, or do you bring a mechanic to check out the facts before you buy?
Again, it can be read for free from a public library, there is even a version on audiobook at some libraries.
This Carl Sagan book is not about outer space, its about the inner space of the human mind, and how fallible and prone to error the human mind is, and how to try and deal with that.
Its the perfect antidote to Gurus like James Ray.
Many cult sites reference the book, its ideal for those in any type of New Agey culty group. Its not an overstatement to say that book can help a person get themselves out of many areas of New Agey mental quicksand.
Just taking one or two ideas from that book, which has dozens of ideas, would completely deconstruct James Arthur Ray and his cronies in minutes.
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[
www.xenu.net]
The following are suggested as tools for testing arguments and detecting fallacious or fraudulent arguments:
Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts
Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view.
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In other words, is it testable? Can others duplicate the experiment and get the same result?
Additional issues are
Conduct control experiments - especially "double blind" experiments where the person taking measurements is not aware of the test and control subjects.
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Common fallacies of logic and rhetoric
Ad hominem - attacking the arguer and not the argument.
Argument from "authority".
Argument from adverse consequences (putting pressure on the decision maker by pointing out dire consequences of an "unfavourable" decision).
Appeal to ignorance (absence of evidence is not evidence of absence).
Special pleading (typically referring to god's will). ....
Straw man - caricaturing (or stereotyping) a position to make it easier to attack..
Suppressed evidence or half-truths.
Weasel words - for example, use of euphemisms for war such as "police action" to get around limitations on Presidential powers. "An important art of politicians is to find new names for institutions which under old names have become odious to the public"
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