phi 210

"Identifying Truth or Fiction"  Please respond to the following:

• The video clip ‘The Baloney Detection Kit’ in the Webtext this week discusses the many ways in which an effective critical thinker assesses the claims made by others. Explain what you believe is the real difference between ‘science’ and ‘pseudoscience’.
• Examine the key reasons why so many people might seem to be attracted to more pseudoscience-type claims. Describe at least two (2) such claims that you have heard people make, and analyze the main reasons why such claims do or do not meet rigorous scientific methodology standards. Determine at least two (2) ways in which the material discussed this week has changed your own thinking.

• Scientology purports to be a rational, scientific way of looking at religion.  Last year a documentary about the church called Going Clear showed a rather dark side to the organization.  While the documentary cannot be viewed without going through HBO, here is an article from Rolling Stone, that summarizes some of its main points.  If you have HBO, give it a look.  It is a fascinating film.  Do you think Scientology is religion or something else?  Why are people attracted to Scientology?  Do you think Scientology uses real science to persuade people or is it pseudoscience?

  Rolling Stone on Going Clear

  http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/10-things-we-learned-from-going-clear-20150330