The video clip ‘The Baloney Detection Kit’ in the Webtext this week discusses the many ways in which an effective critical thinker assesses the claims made by others. Explain what you believe is the real difference between ‘science’ and ‘pseudoscience’.

Examine the key reasons why so many people might seem to be attracted to more pseudoscience-type claims. Describe at least two (2) such claims that you have heard people make, and analyze the main reasons why such claims do or do not meet rigorous scientific methodology standards. Determine at least two (2) ways in which the material discussed this week has changed your own thinking.

RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

 

Science is when a hypothesis or belief can be proven by facts, testing, labs etc. Pseudoscience is when someone has a belief but they are not able to provide actual statistics or proof to verify what they are saying (kind of like Trump's recent assertion that there were 3 to 5 million illegal votes in the 2016 election). So the difference really is fact vs opinion.

People may be attracted to pseudoscience claims for 2 primary reasons. First, they really want to believe it so since an argument sounds good, they choose to believe it. Second, believeing the pseudoscience claim may be seen as cool so they decide to be a follower instead of a leader. One example, as I just mentioned, would be Donald Trump's claim that 3 to 5 million people were illegally involved in the 2016 election comprised of people registered in 2 states (just like at least one of his staff members and his daughter), registered although dead (very possible since people can die after being registered to vote but there is no data showing the dead people voted), or illegals (possible but I believe to a smaller scales because of checks and balances in the system. Another topic which I have heard is that certain types of liquor are good for treating a cold or flu. While having a few shots may make you feel better or make you sleep better or longer, there is nothing that I have ever found that proves the theory that the actual alochol helps you instead of the added sleep and relaxation help you get better.

After reading this week's information, I would say one thing that has changed in my opinion is that there are more people that are naive than even I thought. People need to be educated and take it upon themselves to educate themselves on a topic before actually arguing for or against it or just believeing what they are told. Another thing that is enlightening about this week's topic is that I used to think that the people who tried to gain pseudoscience following were just trying to be different. After doing more research, it seems like they have, in a sense, brain washed themselves to believe everything they are saying even if there is no proof and it has made me want to be more aware and less believing of people until i have facts and figures to back up data.

 

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