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How To Teach a Healthy Dose of Skepticism?
c0d3h4x0r writes "It's no accident that 'whatcouldpossiblygowrong' is one of the most common tags applied by this community to stories about proposed ideas or laws. The ability to spot and predict faults is a big part of what makes a great engineer. It starts with having a healthy skepticism about the world, which leads to actual critical thinking. Many books and courses teach critical thinking skills, but what is the best way to encourage and teach someone to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism? Is it even a teachable skill, or is it just an innate part of the geek personality?"
Subscribe to the "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe" podcast.
Sean Ellis
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The best book I ever read on this subject is here.
This book gives you a deep fundamental understanding of science and the scientific method. The chapters focus on debunking a variety of outrageous pseudoscience. Ideas from UFOs to conspiracy theories to the Lost City of Atlantis are swept away by convincing arguments. Once you read enough of this, the higher meaning presents itself. Don't let the nonsense comfort you falsely. Be skeptical and trust in science. It is the most reliable methodology for getting to the truth.
Few books really changed my outlook in life. This is one of them. Read the reviews at Amazon. You will see I'm not alone. For me, in this crazy world, science really has become a candle in the dark.
Try the weekly podcast from these guys. The main guy S. Novella (Chairman I guess) frequently shows in great and unambiguous detail how to deconstruct and deal with areas you need to be skeptical in/off. Creationism, Homeopathy, Fake Mecicine (Snake Oil), UFO's, Bigfoot etc. I've been listening for 5 months, since I got my Xmas iPod, and I've learnt a lot.
Bob
This was posted at the BadAstronomy.com blog a couple of days ago.
[Sceptic] Brian Dunning has put together a video on how to think critically. Itâ(TM)s called Here Be Dragons, and itâ(TM)s a pretty good primer into how to think. Itâ(TM)s about 40 minutes long, and free to use (with some caveats; see the site). I think this would do well in a classroom. Any teachers out there? I know itâ(TM)s too late for most school sessions, but you can download the movie (and a high-res version too) and keep it handy for the next year. http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/06/11/here-be-dragons/
When I saw this headline, it was the first thing that came in my mind! (I checked, you're the only one who mentioned it -- did a quick search on -1 on "Dragons")
Direct link
Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
Provide a lot of sources. Always teach both sides of the argument. Prefer primary sources than commented material and leave critical analysis to yourself / your students.
Spend sometime understanding the argumentative process and teach / learn how to identify bad arguments. http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
I only know one thing: That I know nothing. (brought to you by Socrates
You have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice, speak once
The basic meaning is to teach / learn that no matter how much you know and you've studied, you should always treat yourself as if you know nothing. In a sense, you always do.
[...]
A scientist was right to doubt the existence of tectonic plates before based on your observation, and is right to believe in them now.
But his science teacher didn't just doubt their existence, he dismissed the idea out of hand because it didn't conform with prevailing dogma. That doesn't have anything to do with science. A hypothesis that can be neither proven or disproven by existing evidence should not be considered false; it should be considered an unknown, meriting further research.
Don't confuse scientists with science teachers. Science teachers generally stop their science training before getting beyond the repeating stuff from textbooks phase, so they have never been scientists in any real sense. Science training in schools is pretty limited in that regard, you will learn a lot of scientific facts, but you never do an experiement where you don't already know the answer.
Also in my experience scientists are often criticised for not holding their opinions firmly enough.
While we're listing books, I have to add 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins.
I have to admit, I was leaning already, but this book is really the best call to arms to Agnostics, to become full-fledged Atheists, that I have read so far. He does things like establish why all God theories are either statistically improbable in the absurd, or just useless circular logic. He establishes why other far-fetched theories, like intelligent life in other parts of the Universe, are statistically probable, especially in comparison. Even if you don't like the way he writes, it's full of references to other great books, writers, and ideas -- he liberally references other great writers like Douglas Adams and Carl Sagan. In general, Richard Dawkins offers a unique and interesting view of history, and the bibliography makes a great reading list, no matter which way your religious leanings sway.
"Here at the Enrichment Center we believe that if at first you don't succeed, you fail."
Tie two birds together: although they have four wings, they cannot fly. (The blind man)
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"This in fact is a fallacy; here's why. By its very nature the supernatural is "super" natural. If it were measurable, repeatable, therified and falsifiable, it would cease to be *super*natural and merely be a part of nature."
If the supernatural isn't any part of nature, how does the supernatural affect the natural world?
It can't unless it extends into reality.
If it extends into reality, it can be measured, hypothesized about and falsified.
So which is it? Outside or reality or part of it?
Choose one, then we can tear that apart.
BTW: GodDidIt, is not an answer to the question "why" - it's still wishful thinking.
It includes evolution, for example, and certainly has no room for the "you have to believe it because it's written here". Like gays and lesbians are "sinning"? What a load of crap.
:-)
Who are you arguing with? Because it's not me. As I said in another comment, I think evolution is the best scientific explanation for the diversity of life we see. I don't think it's a sin to be gay if you're gay.
You're attacking someone else's religion. As I said above, it's frustrating to me that, because of some vocal idiots, there's a lot of people that think that, because I believe in God, I must therefore also believe all these other things that are ridiculous.
I only believe *one* ridiculous thing.
Terrorist, bomb, al Qaeda, nuclear, yellowcake, kill, assassinate. Carnivore is dead... long live Echelon.
Wow, that must have been ages ago. How old are you?
I'm 55. I went to elementary school in NYC and its northern suburbs.
Best regards.