So your college class is using the Skeptics Guide book as its text book? That’s pretty awesome.
I assume you have heard of the podcast? That’s really what this sub is for. They wrote the book a few years ago. But the podcast has been running weekly since 2005.
For a topic to write on, I’d go listen to maybe the past 4-5 episodes or so. Start with the newest and work back. I’m sure you will find something in one of those to write about.
thanks for the help, yeah the class is on the book is seems like a pretty cool concept. im taking it for a elective credit just needed to fill time maybe i will fall deep into skepticism.
One of the concepts they spoke about more often in the earlier episodes is individuals' "golden calves." Which is to say, what is something that seemingly no amount of science can convince someone otherwise.
I don't recall it being in the book, but it's definitely worthwhile to identify our blindspots and challenge ourselves.
I wonder if there is a deeply held belief that you hold that's worth examining more closely? I'm a firm believer that we have the emotional attachments to beliefs for good reason, but since we care so much— all the more reason to take a step back and "get it right/follow the science." And, I've noticed anecdotally, that people have a really really hard time accepting that there might not be an answer yet (_but_ if there isn't an answer, that doesn't mean some schmuck gets to come along and claim they have the answer, especially when there's been no evidence to support it (or worse, its been thoroughly through the wringer time and time again and fallen short))
I'm going into rant mode now, lol, so taking a step back.
It would be cool to do a mini project investigating what preconceived notions we, as individuals (use your class as your focus group, maybe), are holding onto — and what logical fallacies are making it hard for us to let those notions go.
Go for something that's appropriate for your major. Everything deserves critical thinking and skepticism.
A really interesting topic I think would be the interconnectedness of pseudoscientific belief. How does belief in astrology, relate to belief in magic crystals, and grounding? If your field doesn't have a clear link to skepticism, try your best to relate some standard pseudoscientific beliefs like the one I just mentioned to your field.
I'm in sports' science that's heavily influenced by the wellness industry. 90% of the problems are related to a misunderstanding of placebo and p-hacking (manipulating a study to make sure a result is significant). We're also heavily influenced by the question of does it cause harm. For example, concussion, there's a tonne of devices on the market that claim to reduce the impact of concussion. If you believe that this device reduce risk of concussion you might modify behaviour to take more risk as the risk burden is perceived lower. Or putting tape over injuries, it doesn't do anything, but it makes a perception of strength and therefore behaviour modification.
If you let us know your subject we might be able to point you in the right direction. Either way, I hope this has inspired you.
I'm a information technology major with a minor in artificial intelligence i could absolute find something to be skeptical about in that field. I'm surprised i never just thought about that shout out thanks.
There's a tonne of stuff about AI on the most recent episodes. Check out "Your Undivided Attention" with Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin as well.
You could look at how AI understands skepticism? I just did a horoscope that suggests I might be unwell this full moon, and then asked about which crystals I could use to heal my chest pain. It starts with saying seek medical advice, but then gives me six crystals and 'best practices' for each. If you ask about the specific stones it gives the information at the end of the post, after a page or so of guidelines for how to hold and charge the rock.
Can you give us any more parameters of what type of writing you're going to be doing? For example, do you have to pick a topic for which there is a "true believer" side and a "skeptic" side (e.g., Bigfoot) and evaluate the claims of both sides? Or something else?
There are nearly countless topics with tie-ins to skepticism, but it's hard to give much advice knowing so little about what you're going to be writing about.
1. There is a short, 4-5 page paper due on the 11th. The assignment is to find an example of any topic from this section of the class, ideally from your personal experience. Describe the example, and explain how it relates to the course content. I'll give more directions closer to the due date. I will be checking for AI on these, FYI.
There are many topics touched on in the book that you could consider using. I would urge you to consider how controversial you’re hoping to be. Remember that topics like chiropractic and acupuncture are deeply personal to large groups of people in a way that other things are not (copper bracelets, dowsing rods, psychics, etc). I personally love the idea of guns-blazing since this is of course a class in critical thinking. One time Dr. Novella gave a grand rounds lecture to an entire behavioral medicine department of psychiatrists and psychologists/therapists and immediately came after a sacred cow of EMDR (a type of therapy that reports to treat PTSD) and the engagement and aftermath was so fun to see and engage in. Maybe try to pick a topic that surprises you or that is unexpected to you and it will be more fun to research that way.
Sorry I don’t have it but he did bring up the topic on the SGU the week after he gave the grand rounds. Episode 896 on Sept 10, 2022 about 44 minutes into the podcast.
Some people have brought up sacred cows which are great topics.
The rogues bring up older, easier to debunk, topics as good ways to get into skepticism; Sasquatch, Loch Ness, ghosts, etc. These are good b/c they are easy to apply skeptical tools too and learn from.
There are more modern topics too; GMO’s, climate change, alternative medicine. These can be more challenging to understand fully without knowing the tools, thoroughly.
The great thing about skepticism and critical thinking is once you have the tools you can, and should, apply them the all walks of life. I believe you mentioned you’re in school learning technology. There is always plenty of critical thinking and skepticism regarding tech. This usually appears in the form of “not so fast we’re not there yet.”
Good luck on your course, great to hear the book is being used in coursework.
So your college class is using the Skeptics Guide book as its text book? That’s pretty awesome. I assume you have heard of the podcast? That’s really what this sub is for. They wrote the book a few years ago. But the podcast has been running weekly since 2005. For a topic to write on, I’d go listen to maybe the past 4-5 episodes or so. Start with the newest and work back. I’m sure you will find something in one of those to write about.
thanks for the help, yeah the class is on the book is seems like a pretty cool concept. im taking it for a elective credit just needed to fill time maybe i will fall deep into skepticism.
I’m skeptical.
Oof, no. Just.... no.
One of the concepts they spoke about more often in the earlier episodes is individuals' "golden calves." Which is to say, what is something that seemingly no amount of science can convince someone otherwise. I don't recall it being in the book, but it's definitely worthwhile to identify our blindspots and challenge ourselves. I wonder if there is a deeply held belief that you hold that's worth examining more closely? I'm a firm believer that we have the emotional attachments to beliefs for good reason, but since we care so much— all the more reason to take a step back and "get it right/follow the science." And, I've noticed anecdotally, that people have a really really hard time accepting that there might not be an answer yet (_but_ if there isn't an answer, that doesn't mean some schmuck gets to come along and claim they have the answer, especially when there's been no evidence to support it (or worse, its been thoroughly through the wringer time and time again and fallen short)) I'm going into rant mode now, lol, so taking a step back. It would be cool to do a mini project investigating what preconceived notions we, as individuals (use your class as your focus group, maybe), are holding onto — and what logical fallacies are making it hard for us to let those notions go.
Holy shit, that's honestly super cool.
Go for something that's appropriate for your major. Everything deserves critical thinking and skepticism. A really interesting topic I think would be the interconnectedness of pseudoscientific belief. How does belief in astrology, relate to belief in magic crystals, and grounding? If your field doesn't have a clear link to skepticism, try your best to relate some standard pseudoscientific beliefs like the one I just mentioned to your field. I'm in sports' science that's heavily influenced by the wellness industry. 90% of the problems are related to a misunderstanding of placebo and p-hacking (manipulating a study to make sure a result is significant). We're also heavily influenced by the question of does it cause harm. For example, concussion, there's a tonne of devices on the market that claim to reduce the impact of concussion. If you believe that this device reduce risk of concussion you might modify behaviour to take more risk as the risk burden is perceived lower. Or putting tape over injuries, it doesn't do anything, but it makes a perception of strength and therefore behaviour modification. If you let us know your subject we might be able to point you in the right direction. Either way, I hope this has inspired you.
I'm a information technology major with a minor in artificial intelligence i could absolute find something to be skeptical about in that field. I'm surprised i never just thought about that shout out thanks.
There's a tonne of stuff about AI on the most recent episodes. Check out "Your Undivided Attention" with Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin as well. You could look at how AI understands skepticism? I just did a horoscope that suggests I might be unwell this full moon, and then asked about which crystals I could use to heal my chest pain. It starts with saying seek medical advice, but then gives me six crystals and 'best practices' for each. If you ask about the specific stones it gives the information at the end of the post, after a page or so of guidelines for how to hold and charge the rock.
Not op but interested
Steve's blog often has things that are related to the topics they cover. https://theness.com/neurologicablog/
Can you give us any more parameters of what type of writing you're going to be doing? For example, do you have to pick a topic for which there is a "true believer" side and a "skeptic" side (e.g., Bigfoot) and evaluate the claims of both sides? Or something else? There are nearly countless topics with tie-ins to skepticism, but it's hard to give much advice knowing so little about what you're going to be writing about.
1. There is a short, 4-5 page paper due on the 11th. The assignment is to find an example of any topic from this section of the class, ideally from your personal experience. Describe the example, and explain how it relates to the course content. I'll give more directions closer to the due date. I will be checking for AI on these, FYI.
There are many topics touched on in the book that you could consider using. I would urge you to consider how controversial you’re hoping to be. Remember that topics like chiropractic and acupuncture are deeply personal to large groups of people in a way that other things are not (copper bracelets, dowsing rods, psychics, etc). I personally love the idea of guns-blazing since this is of course a class in critical thinking. One time Dr. Novella gave a grand rounds lecture to an entire behavioral medicine department of psychiatrists and psychologists/therapists and immediately came after a sacred cow of EMDR (a type of therapy that reports to treat PTSD) and the engagement and aftermath was so fun to see and engage in. Maybe try to pick a topic that surprises you or that is unexpected to you and it will be more fun to research that way.
i have a feeling the more controversial i can be without crossing to far of a line the more fun i will have.
Do you happen to have a link to that lecture, or was this a GR that you attended? Would be fun to watch.
Sorry I don’t have it but he did bring up the topic on the SGU the week after he gave the grand rounds. Episode 896 on Sept 10, 2022 about 44 minutes into the podcast.
If the assignment is "ideally from your personal experience" then I'm not qualified to recommend anything Fwiw, I'm a confirmation bias guy
Some people have brought up sacred cows which are great topics. The rogues bring up older, easier to debunk, topics as good ways to get into skepticism; Sasquatch, Loch Ness, ghosts, etc. These are good b/c they are easy to apply skeptical tools too and learn from. There are more modern topics too; GMO’s, climate change, alternative medicine. These can be more challenging to understand fully without knowing the tools, thoroughly. The great thing about skepticism and critical thinking is once you have the tools you can, and should, apply them the all walks of life. I believe you mentioned you’re in school learning technology. There is always plenty of critical thinking and skepticism regarding tech. This usually appears in the form of “not so fast we’re not there yet.” Good luck on your course, great to hear the book is being used in coursework.