Chris Lindner

UT Austin

Pseudoscience and the Skeptic's Movement

Two responses to an observed phenomena:

“I don’t understand what just happened, so it musthave been supernatural!”

“I don’t know what just happened, but itprobably wasn’t supernatural.”

(I just don’t understand it)

My Definition:A movement of scientists and laypeople to think critically and demand evidence in all issues that may be discussed scientifically.

Wikipedia - Scientific Skepticism:Scientific skepticism or rational skepticism… is a

scientific or practical, epistemological position in which one questions the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence.

The Skeptics Movement

… is the fight against pseudoscience.

The Skeptics Movement

Pseudoscience is defined as a body of knowledge, methodology, belief, or practice that is claimed to be scientific or made to appear scientific, but does not adhere to the scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, or otherwise lacks scientific status.

Wikipedia

Crystal healing

Palm reading Tarot cards Astrology Government

mind control Auras Mayan

Calendars (of doom!)

Homeopathy

Doesn't everybody think scientifically?

Aliens / UFOs Ghosts /

Ghosthunters Bigfoot The face on

Mars Nostradamus Time Cube Wormholes Chemtrails Teleportation Psychic

readings

Magnet Therapy

Acupuncture Creationism LHC Paranoia Chiropractic Vaccine autism

paranoia Crop circles Cell phone

cancer Scientology

Crystal healing

Palm reading Tarot cards Astrology Government

mind control Auras Mayan

Calendars (of doom!)

Homeopathy

Sure, but who does it hurt? Aliens / UFOs Ghosts /

Ghosthunters Bigfoot The face on

Mars Nostradamus Time Cube Wormholes Chemtrails Teleportation Psychic

readings

Magnet Therapy

Acupuncture Creationism LHC Paranoia Chiropractic Vaccine autism

paranoia Crop circles Cell phone

cancer Scientology

Crystal healing

Palm reading Tarot cards Astrology Government

mind control Auras Mayan

Calendars (of doom!)

Homeopathy

Sure, but who does it hurt? Aliens / UFOs Ghosts /

Ghosthunters Bigfoot The face on

Mars Nostradamus Time Cube Wormholes Chemtrails Teleportation Psychic

readings

Magnet Therapy

Acupuncture Creationism LHC Paranoia Chiropractic Vaccine autism

paranoia Crop circles Cell phone

cancer Scientology

Council pays psychic for exorcism Sabrina Fallon said the ghostly resident has gone A psychic was paid £60 by a council to rid a County Durham home of a "poltergeist" after ghostly goings-on. Easington Council employed medium Suzanne Hadwin after Peterlee tenant Sabrina Fallon reported paranormal activity including moving objects.

Miss Fallon had even called police after hearing bangs which terrified her children Shannon, nine, and Amie, one.

A council spokesman said it paid half the psychic's fee as it was the most cost-effective solution.(BBC News)

Crystal healing

Palm reading Tarot cards Astrology Government

mind control Auras Mayan

Calendars (of doom!)

Homeopathy

Sure, but who does it hurt? Aliens / UFOs Ghosts /

Ghosthunters Bigfoot The face on

Mars Nostradamus Time Cube Wormholes Chemtrails Teleportation Psychic

readings

Magnet Therapy

Acupuncture Creationism LHC Paranoia Chiropractic Vaccine autism

paranoia Crop circles Cell phone

cancer Scientology

A homeopathic doctor was suspended Tuesday for his role in a botched liposuction operation earlier this month that resulted in the death of the patient.“

"Roger Downey, spokesman for the Arizona Medical Board, said one of the issues with the third fatality is that Normann allowed an unlicensed medical doctor to perform a procedure that only a licensed doctor may perform. Under state law, homeopaths may do "minor surgery," and Dr. Bruce Shelton, president of the Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association and former president of the Homeopathic Board, said whether liposuction can be considered minor surgery "is a huge gray area."“(ABC news)

Crystal healing

Palm reading Tarot cards Astrology Government

mind control Auras Mayan

Calendars (of doom!)

Homeopathy

Sure, but who does it hurt? Aliens / UFOs Ghosts /

Ghosthunters Bigfoot The face on

Mars Nostradamus Time Cube Wormholes Chemtrails Teleportation Psychic

readings

Magnet Therapy

Acupuncture Creationism LHC Paranoia Chiropractic Vaccine autism

paranoia Crop circles Cell phone

cancer Scientology

In 2008-09 the Texas State Board of Education is revising the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum standards for the sciences. These standards lay out the core curriculum guidelines for all Texas public school science classes. Alarmingly, a number of members of the state board have expressed hostility to teaching evolution, a concept that is a central pillar in any modern science education. Chairman Don McLeroy recently told the New York Times that the Texas state board was preparing for a debate between two systems of science: “You’ve got a creationist system and a naturalist system.” (NYT, June 4, 2008)

Politicians on the state board have publicly indicated their intention to exploit the wording of the existing standards which requires coverage of the “strengths and weaknesses” of scientific theories. On its face, this might seem like common sense to non-scientists. But as MacArthur Fellow and University of Texas biology professor David Hillis told the New York Times, the main purpose of the “weaknesses” strategy is to introduce religious ideas in the guise of science in our public school classroom.(www.texasscientists.org)

1. Don’t believe the hype – when you hear about something extraordinary and/or contradictory to science, investigate. Remember: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

2. Demand evidence – whenever you hear someone make an outrageous claim

3. Challenge others to think critically – when you know they are involved in pseudoscience. Don’t just let it go

4. Spread the word – let others know about the skeptics movement, and why it’s important

5. Hold officials accountable – if you see your government / authority figures supporting pseudoscience write, call, or email them and let them know it is not okay.

What can you do?

Podcasts Skeptics guide to the universe Skeptoid

Resources / Blogs Neurologica James Randi Education Foundation (JREF) Skepchick The Bad Astronomer (Phil Plait) Skeptics Dictionary

Sign the 21st Century Science Coalition statement

www.texasscientists.org

Other Resources

Crystal healing

Palm reading Tarot cards Astrology Government

mind control Auras Mayan

Calendars (of doom!)

Homeopathy

Sure, but who does it hurt? Aliens / UFOs Ghosts /

Ghosthunters Bigfoot The face on

Mars Nostradamus Time Cube Wormholes Chemtrails Teleportation Psychic

readings

Magnet Therapy

Acupuncture Creationism LHC Paranoia Chiropractic Vaccine

autism paranoia

Crop circles Cell phone

cancer Scientology

ABC is scheduled to air a new Drama, “Eli Stone” on Thursday Jan. 31st. The first episode features a lawyer suing for a parent who believes her son’s autism was caused by mercury in vaccines. By all accounts the show is an assault on science and reason. The New York Times got it right when they wrote:But reams of scientific studies by the leading American health authorities have failed to establish a causal link between the preservative and autism. Since the preservative was largely removed from childhood vaccines in 2001, autism rates have not declined.

But the script also takes several liberties that could leave viewers believing that the debate over thimerosal — which in the program’s script is given the fictional name mercuritol — is far from scientifically settled.(www.theness.com)