Science, Pseudo-science, Non-sense, and Critical Thinking: Why the Differences Matter

ISBN-13: 9781138301030 / Angielski / Miękka / 2018 / 148 str.

Gershon Ben-Shakhar; Marianna Bar

Opis

We are exposed on a daily basis to bogus promises of comfort, security, healing, truth, and even predictions of the future. The Lying Machine shines an unforgiving light on two extremely popular and lucrative examples of this phenomenon: "cold reading" techniques, and the pseudosciences of graphology and polygraph interrogation. Is there any scientific basis at all for the claims of their practitioners? The authors review the history and the relevant research and, aided by a wealth of anecdote and illustration, expose the pretensions and fallacies of these practices in clear and logical fashion. They also examine the psychological factors that lead both purveyors and consumers to place their faith in them. Written by two leading experts and aimed at interested professionals and the wider public, The Lying Machine seeks to encourage critical thinking not only towards graphology and polygraphy and their associated arts, but to the claims of pseudoscience more generally.

Recenzje

"In our post-modern era in which the distinction between truth and fiction is increasingly blurred and practices offering quick solutions are more popular than ever, Science, Pseudo-science, Non-sense, and Critical Thinking is a must read. In accessible and often humorous language, Barr and Ben-Shakhar debunk practices based on mysticism and pseudoscience, offer illuminating insights into our beliefs, and demonstrate the promise of critical thinking. Reading this book was sheer pleasure. I will recommend it to all my students because critical thinking is important not just for science, it is important for our everyday life." - Ram Frost, Professor of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel