Once again, the other day a guy was trying to convince me that crop circles are impossible to have been made by people. When I tried to ask him about control goups vs test groups or simply direct logical reasoning, his reply was that cereologists aren't into that science sh**t.
I've heard similar comments many times before. Is it that alt-sci advocates don't even know what the scentific method is? Or is it that logic will shatter their choosen beleifs so that logical thinking is refered to as "sh**t"? Some seem to think that utilzing expensive equipment or using words like "quantum" means that they are performing science. Basically, that tells me that they are simply uneducated or gullible. What is your view of why these people don't respect science?
2007-10-23 08:53:58 · 13 answers · asked by Hgldr 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Alternative ➔ Other - Alternative
to PSIEXPLO. You misread the sentence. I made no conclusion based on any bad logic. Several people who have told me science was sh*t before actaully had no sceince education nor degree for that matter. So that is actually a fact that I stated. Who would respect your accusations and rantings?
2007-10-24 05:00:53 · update #1
s g. WOW. you had a lot of accusations there based on assumptions that you just made up, but you didn't answer the original quesiton.
2007-10-24 13:17:52 · update #2
It does seem there is a deep disdain for science in the paranormal community. It's not just with believers in one particular phenomenon either. It seems like there are paranormalists who will believe in completely dissimilar things (i.e. ghosts and UFOs) simply because they are both paranormal. I don't pretend to understand, but perhaps it's because magical thinking is unscientific so all things unscientific are appealing to a particular type of person (a reality rebel?).
2007-10-23 12:42:07 · answer #1 · answered by Peter D 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
It is not a disdain for the sci. method. Everything is relative to one's own perspective. "The Scientific Method" only works with the laws of physics that we are aware of or the ones that we can perceive. You sound exactly like the church when Galileo tried to popularize Aristotle's' (firmly established by Copernicus) theory that the sun was actually the center of the solar system. Did they have control groups? Would you have believed him? I doubt it. And look now, an idea that you would have completely gone against if you were alive back then, with the advent of "new" technology and scientific methods, comes to be proven true. And to say "chosen beliefs", man you are far from being a scientific thinker. You are stuck in a 4 dimensional material world because you "chose" to think inside of those limits. Can you yourself prove below a subatomic level that anything is solid, whole or "real" (in your perception of reality) as you realists like to say. No you can't, nobody can. The current "scientific method" is merely a set of rules to produce a particular conclusion. So in other words, its a set of restrictions. So to put you to the test. You should try to prove that crop circles found on Earth are not made by anything other than humans by using the "scientific method". Oh!!, wait, you can't, that would require a control and test group of alien crop circle artists to compare to human crop circle artists. That my friend is why the "scientific method" like many others are crap. The method can't conclusively and simultaneously prove one side and disprove the other with 100% certainty. You might get to 99% certainty or so, but as science does recognize, a discrepancy is a discrepancy. I would suggest to not harass the community of alt. science as you call it, but to study it as much as uh, non alt. science. So as "To not have a biased or self interest tainted conclusion". Hmmm. that sounds very much like the "scientific method". You should also take some college level Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Math that includes linear equations and algorythmns, Philosophy, History, Biology and anything involving nano-tech. Basically a degree.
As of now, the questions that I have seen you posting are very one side, closed minded, and do not support your constant reluctance to the "scientific method", of which you do not seem to be putting to practice. Think about it.
G out!!
2007-10-24 11:01:47 · answer #2 · answered by s g 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a scientist, and I understand the scientific method requires a repeatable test with defined results. The problem with most paranormal phenomenon is that it cannot easily be repeated. When dealing with phenomenon that cannot be "coerced" to occur, and phenomenon that is rarely seen, it is very difficult to design experiments that will test any hypothesis.
In most scientific fields, when a phenomenon cannot be created, but only observed, the scientists in the field use the limited information that they have to generate hypothesis to continue their studies. The scientists often rely on anecdotal evidence because it is all that they have to work with. It is the same with the paranormal. Irregular and infrequent events are examined for consistency.
I don't believe that most paranormal investigators have a disdain for science, but many skeptics -on this forum- point to the lack of repeatable experiments as *proof* that the phenomenon *doesn't* exist. This is just bad logic. Just because repeatable experiments have not been constructed does not prove that the phenomenon doesn't exist.
If you want to be a skeptic with credibility in any field, you have to consider *all* of the evidence, and, in this field, you have to admit that some results are unexplainable using standard science. You may question the explanations put forth by others, but, unless you can absolutely prove them false, you must consider them a possibility if you are a scientist.
Many scientists dismiss claims of the paranormal "out of hand" without examining the evidence. This is disrepectful to the people who are truly trying to examine unexplained phenomenon with a discerning eye. If you want to get somebody mad, tell them that you don't respect *their* science.
2007-10-24 04:35:22 · answer #3 · answered by Tunsa 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Alternative Science is a scientific view of subjects not covered (or rejected) by worldwide educational or scientific institutions.
2016-05-25 05:00:09 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really want to get through to a person you have to do it at their level and not expect everyone to have taken science 101.
You have to understand that you are discussing things that cannot be proven. No matter which way you believe, there is not enough evidence to change your mind so science isn't going to help when it comes to belief systems.
2007-10-23 09:54:46 · answer #5 · answered by Father Ted 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Australia this problem is seiously entrenched in many agricultural industries. A recent book "Back from the brink" advises farmers not to worry about weeds, and proposes numerous "stategies", mostly unscientific, to manage rural properties. This book was published and promoted by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, giving it undeserved credibility.
2007-10-23 09:08:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because science doesn't prove them right, in fact it proves them wrong, so SCIENCE must be thing one that's flawed, not them. You hear this from homeopathists all the time - and religious people - that their 'science' or their god can't be tested using actual science. They just must not understand the point of science - to test the natural world. And if it's not natural, chances are very good it's not there.
As a physicist, the 'quantum' argument drives me nuts. Next time they try it, ask them to write down the wavefunction for you. :)
2007-10-23 10:13:44 · answer #7 · answered by eri 7 · 9⤊ 1⤋
What does disdain mean?????
EDIT..It's not always that a person is "interested" in the paranormal. Sometimes things "happen" to them and they want to understand what happened...and science really doesn't give good answers to these things. If I ever heard a REALLY GOOD answer from science to explain these things..I'd say"OH..now I understand!" and leave it at that. But it never happens. Just like Cris Angel....if he explained his tricks...then you'd "understand" and wouldn't be so fascinated . You'd quit searching for the answer...because you found it!
2007-10-23 11:51:40 · answer #8 · answered by Deenie 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because it doesn't back up their fanciful notions.They rationalize saying science can't disprove it.I want to believe it so I will.That's not to say all of them are uneducated and gullible.Some are way to smart to think mystically.We can learn a lot from them.
2007-10-23 11:45:59 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. NG 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Cereologists, LOL Thats funny. I mean would you really put that on a business card, on a resume? Why not just put " I'm A Raving Lunatic". My god they have movies of people making them, they don't believe the movies, and what about all the people arrested for trespassing.
2007-10-23 10:16:09 · answer #10 · answered by John S 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋