evaluating claims. scientific reasoning what are the tools of scientific reasoning? “filchers”...
TRANSCRIPT
Evaluating Claims
Scientific Reasoning
What are the tools of scientific reasoning?
“FiLCHeRs” – six tools for distinguishing science from pseudoscience
#1 - Falsifiability
It must be possible to conceive of evidence that would prove the claim false
Which of the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking does #1 sound like?
Examples of “falsifiability”
Online Learning Module
http://www.psych.ualberta.ca/~ITL/ct/
More links - http://web.bsu.edu/dlb/t/science/sciquest/sciquest.htm
#2 - Logic
Any argument offered as evidence in support of any claim must be sound.
Which of the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking does #2 sound like?
Example - Turkish admiral Piri Re'is map of the world
#3 - Comprehensiveness
The evidence offered in support of any claim must be exhaustive -- that is all of the available evidence must be considered.
Which of the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking does #3 sound like?
Example – Psychics and their predictions
#4 - Honesty
The evidence offered in support of any claim must be evaluated without self-deception.
Which of the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking does #4 sound like?
Example of Honesty (no self-deception)
#5 - Replicability
It is necessary for the evidence to be repeated in subsequent experiments or trials.
Which of the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking does #5 sound like?
Example - ESP
#6 - Sufficiency
The evidence offered in support of any claim must be adequate to establish the truth of that claim
Which of the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking does #6 sound like?
Example – If you were abducted by a UFO, how would you prove it?
Summary of “FiLCHeRs”
The first three rules of FiLCHeRS: -- falsifiability, logic, and comprehensiveness --
are all logically necessary rules of evidential reasoning.
The last three rules of FiLCHeRS -- honesty, replicability, and sufficiency -- are all pragmatically necessary rules of evidential reasoning.
Professional Skeptics
James Randi
Video of James Randi in Australia testing water diviners and dowsers
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7461912885649996034
- How does James Randi exemplify the 7 Guidelines for Critical Thinking?
- How does water divining exemplify the 10 Characteristics of Pseudoscience
- How does James Randi’s test of water divining exemplify 6 Tools of Scientific Reasoning?