20 SEP 2024 by ideonexus
Pension-Fraud Correlated with Longevity
Regions where people most often reach 100-110 years old are the ones where there’s the most pressure to commit pension fraud, and they also have the worst records. For example, the best place to reach 105 in England is Tower Hamlets. It has more 105-year-olds than all of the rich places in England put together. It’s closely followed by downtown Manchester, Liverpool and Hull. Yet these places have the lowest frequency of 90-year-olds and are rated by the UK as the worst places to be an ol... 1 
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notes21 MAR 2015 by ideonexus
Children Are Naturally Skeptical of Santa Claus
First, researchers asked children between the ages of 3 and 9 about the possibility of various extraordinary events, some possible and some impossible. None of the events were related to Santa or to Christmas. (Shtulman used his own 4-year-old son as a “data point” in the study.)
Next, the researchers asked children to help write a letter to Santa. Although children were free to include whatever they wanted, they were specifically encouraged to ask Santa some questions.
“What we found...Folksonomies: skepticism parenting
Folksonomies: skepticism parenting
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notes16 MAY 2012 by ideonexus
Why Do Supernatural Acts Require Mood-Setting Rituals?
If any spiritualistic medium can do stunts, there is no more need for special conditions than there is for a chemist to turn down lights, start operations with a hymn, and ask whether there's any chemical present that has affinity with something named Hydrogen. Folksonomies: skepticism supernatural
Folksonomies: skepticism supernatural
1 notes
notesChemists don't need to turn down the lights. Physicists don't need to chant.
05 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Skepticism Means Wrestling with Issues Without Knowing if...
I use the word skeptical in an etymological or philosophical sense, because to be
skeptical does not mean that one doubts, but that one investigates or searches without the
need to find definite conclusion or affirmation. There are those who examine a problem
and feel they must find an explanation or a solution, whether it is accurate or not.
[...]
So then, they will say to me: “What is your religion?” And I will respond: my
religion is to look for truth in life and life in truth,...Folksonomies: skepticism spirituality
Folksonomies: skepticism spirituality
1 notes
notesMiguel de Unamuno rallies against what he calls the "spiritual laziness" of dogmatists and describes his quest for spiritual meaning.
20 SEP 2011 by ideonexus
Research Conquers our Ignorance
Hard problems often yield before science, and though we still don’t
understand how every complex biochemical system evolved, we are
learning more every day. After all, biochemical evolution is a field in still
its infancy. If the history of science teaches us anything, it is that what
conquers our ignorance is research, not giving up and attributing our
ignorance to the miraculous work of a creator. When you hear someone
claim otherwise, just remember these words of Darwin: “Ignorance mor...
1 Science yields answers in time, ignorance begets confidence in the present.
16 JUN 2011 by ideonexus
Lyrics to Storm
Inner North London, top floor flatAll white walls, white carpet, white cat,Rice Paper partitionsModern art and ambitionThe host’s a physician,Lovely bloke, has his own practiceHis girlfriend’s an actressAn old mate from homeAnd they’re always great fun.So to dinner we’ve come. The 5th guest is an unknown,The hosts have just thrownUs together for a favourbecause this girl’s just arrived from AustraliaAnd has moved to North LondonAnd she’s the sister of someoneOr has some connectio...A beat poem that is hilarious in its defense of skepticism against pseudoscience.
02 JUN 2011 by ideonexus
Einstein on Being Raise Religious
When I was a fairly precocious young man I became thoroughly impressed with the futility of the hopes and strivings that chase most men restlessly through life. Moreover, I soon discovered the cruelty of that chase, which in those years was much more carefully covered up by hypocrisy and glittering words than is the case today. By the mere existence of his stomach everyone was condemned to participate in that chase. The stomach might well be satisfied by such participation, but not man insofa... 1 notes
notesWe are programmed by our parent's religion, and are freed from the burden of a personal god through rationalism and exploring nature.
18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Scooby Doo is a Show About Skeptics
A series called 'The X Files', which pays lip-service to sceptical
examination of the paranormal, is skewed heavily towards the
reality of alien abductions, strange powers and government complicity
in covering up just about everything interesting. Almost
never does the paranormal claim turn out to be a hoax or a
psychological aberration or a misunderstanding of the natural
world. Much closer to reality, as well as a much greater public
service, would be an adult series ('Scooby Doo' does it f...Folksonomies: skepticism science education
Folksonomies: skepticism science education
1 notes
notesIt is the exact opposite of the X-Files.
18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Skepticism and Wonder.
Both scepticism and wonder are skills that need honing and
practice. Their harmonious marriage within the mind of every
schoolchild ought to be a principal goal of public education. I'd
love to see such a domestic felicity portrayed in the media,
television especially: a community of people really working the
mix - full of wonder, generously open to every notion, dismissing
nothing except for good reason, but at the same time, and as
second nature, demanding stringent standards of evidence; a...Folksonomies: skepticism wonder
Folksonomies: skepticism wonder
1 notes
notesWe must cultivate both virtues.
18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
We Must Apply the Scientific Method to Ourselves
If it is to be applied consistently, science imposes, in exchange for
its manifold gifts, a certain onerous burden: we are enjoined, no
matter how uncomfortable it might be, to consider ourselves and
our cultural institutions scientifically and not to accept uncritically
whatever we're told; to surmount as best we can our hopes,
conceits and unexamined beliefs; to view ourselves as we really
are. Can we conscientiously and courageously follow planetary
motion or bacterial genetics wherever th... 1 notes
notesSkepticism must extend to ourselves, our culture, and our institutions.
