wk 11 why people believe part 1

October 31st:

Why do people believe in questionable factual claims?

In other words, what makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

This is also a field guide for recognizing which claims are likely to be bogus

Sales rank on Amazon: #4181

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Sales rank onAmazon: #23,430

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

C. The nature of belief

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

B. Pseudo-archaeologists commit logical errors that are difficult to notice

Are people dumb?

So, let’s find the logic behind why people believe bogus claims

Why do people believe in questionable factual claims?

NO

What we are doing today and Monday:

1. Accusations that Scientific archaeologists are hiding something

“Archaeologist are trivializing the mystery” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

2. Pseudo-archaeologists make it sound like they are letting you in on something special

“Shamefully, archaeologists refuse to recognize the scatteredclues to our forgotten heritage ” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

Khufu

Khafre

Menkaure

Graham Hancock

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

Rhetoric

1. Accusations that Scientific archaeologists are hiding something

“Archaeologist are trivializing the mystery” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

2. Pseudo-archaeologists make it sound like they are letting you in on something special

“Shamefully, archaeologists refuse to recognize the scatteredclues to our forgotten heritage ” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

Terracotta warriors of Xian, China

Rhetoric

1. Accusations that Scientific archaeologists are hiding something

3. Pseudo-archaeologists portray themselves free-thinkers, rebels

“Archaeologist are trivializing the mystery” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

2. Pseudo-archaeologists make it sound like they are letting you in on something special

“We must begin to doubt everything that is established” --Van Daniken, Chariots of the Gods, 1968:10.

“Shamefully, archaeologists refuse to recognize the scatteredclues to our forgotten heritage ” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

versus

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

Rhetoric

1. Accusations that Scientific archaeologists are hiding something

3. Pseudo-archaeologists portray themselves free-thinkers, rebels

“Archaeologist are trivializing the mystery” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

2. Pseudo-archaeologists make it sound like they are letting you in on something special

5. Pseudo-archaeologists frame their contributions as visionary.

“We must begin to doubt everything that is established” --Van Daniken, Chariots of the Gods, 1968:10.

“All the textbooks will have to be rewritten” --Chris Dunn, Giza PowerPlant, page 3.

“Shamefully, archaeologists refuse to recognize the scatteredclues to our forgotten heritage ” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

4. Nevertheless, when it serves them, pseudoarchaeologists embrace establishment figures

--Robert Schoch’s “275 geologists”, Mystery of the Sphinx, 1993

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

Rhetoric

1. Accusations that Scientific archaeologists are hiding something

3. Pseudo-archaeologists portray themselves free-thinkers, rebels

“Archaeologist are trivializing the mystery” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

2. Pseudo-archaeologists make it sound like they are letting you in on something special

5. Pseudo-archaeologists frame their contributions as visionary.

“We must begin to doubt everything that is established” --Van Daniken, Chariots of the Gods, 1968:10.

“All the textbooks will have to be rewritten” --Chris Dunn, Giza PowerPlant, page 3.

“Shamefully, archaeologists refuse to recognize the scatteredclues to our forgotten heritage ” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

6. Pseudo-archaeologists act like they are being bullied. They relish the role of underdog.

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

4. Nevertheless, when it serves them, pseudoarchaeologists embrace establishment figures

--Robert Schoch’s “275 geologists”, Mystery of the Sphinx, 1993

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

Rhetoric

Daiju Takase(169 lbs)

Emmanuel “Tiny” Yarborough(600 lbs) Vs.

Scientificarchaeologist

Pseudo-archaeologist

Mixed martial arts match, June 24th 1998

A. Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

1. Accusations that Scientific archaeologists are hiding something

3. Pseudo-archaeologists portray themselves free-thinkers, rebels

“Archaeologist are trivializing the mystery” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

2. Pseudo-archaeologists make it sound like they are letting you in on something special

5. Pseudo-archaeologists frame their contributions as visionary.

“We must begin to doubt everything that is established” --Van Daniken, Chariots of the Gods, 1968:10.

“All the textbooks will have to be rewritten” --Chris Dunn, Giza PowerPlant, page 3.

“Shamefully, archaeologists refuse to recognize the scatteredclues to our forgotten heritage ” --Graham Hancock, Fingerprints of the Gods, page 295

6. Pseudo-archaeologists act like they are being bullied. They relish the role of underdog.

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

4. Nevertheless, when it serves them, pseudoarchaeologists embrace establishment figures

--Robert Schoch’s “275 geologists”, Mystery of the Sphinx, 1993

They draw strength from criticism: Supposdly, truth passes through three stages:ridicule, opposition, acceptance Who is usually doing the bullying?

Rhetoric

Pseudo-archaeologists usually do the bullying!

“This is the usual nonsense.”

Example: Mike Parker Pearson:

“So this author is saying that Stonehenge is in fact a prehistoric United Nationskinda thing? Lol, I can see it now, all ofthese ancients standing hand in hand ina circle around Stonehenge singing "I'dLike To Teach The World To Sing In Perfect Harmony"

“Stonehenge may have been builtas a symbol of peace and unity”

First responses to this on the GrahamHancock website?

Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

7. Pseudo-archaeologists shift attention away from their own flaws

8. Defending bold claims by stating that we still have a lot to learn

Example: Tiwanaku, Bolivia(South America) is 17,000 yearsold.

Rhetoric

Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

7. Pseudo-archaeologists shift attention away from their own flaws

8. Defending bold claims by stating that we still have a lot to learn

Rhetoric

Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

7. Pseudo-archaeologists shift attention away from their own flaws

9. Pseudo-archaeologists are preachy (scientific archaeologists prefer just stating the facts)

10. Pseudo-archaeologist show unwavering certainty, and speak with complete authority

8. Defending bold claims by stating that we still have a lot to learn

Rhetoric

BOO!

Pseudo-archaeologists make skillful use of rhetoric

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

7. Pseudo-archaeologists shift attention away from their own flaws

9. Pseudo-archaeologists are preachy (scientific archaeologists prefer just stating the facts)

10. Pseudo-archaeologist show unwavering certainty, and speak with complete authority

11. Kitchen-sink attack

8. Defending bold claims by stating that we still have a lot to learn

12. Direct marketing technique (skipping peer review)

Rhetoric

B. Pseudo-archaeologists commit logical errors that are difficult to noticeWhat makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

1. They presume that coincidences are intentional(in other words, they presume that coincidences are not coincidental)

146.5m

230.4m

(230.4 x 4)/146.5 = 6.29078

2 x pi (3.14159) = 6.28318

1 + 1 = 3logical errors

circumference divided by height

So, did the Egyptians build the Khufu pyramid to demonstrate their knowledge of pi?

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

1. They presume that coincidences are intentional

2. They jump to conclusions without enough facts

Khufu’s sarcophagus

1 + 1 = 3logical errors

B. Pseudo-archaeologists commit logical errors that are difficult to notice

What makes pseudo-archaeology appealing?

1. They presume that coincidences are intentional

1 + 1 = 3logical errors

B. Pseudo-archaeologists commit logical errors that are difficult to notice

2. They jump to conclusions without enough facts

3. They ignore the concept of representativeness

There are a handful ofartifacts that look like they were made withmodern lathes.So…the true function ofthe pyramids was to generateelectricity for all the lathes

But what about all the other artifacts?And where are the lathes and other machines?