64 Quotes About Pseudoscience

The theories of the social sciences do not consist of “laws” in the sense of empirical rules about the behavior of objects definable in physical terms. All that the theory of the social sciences attempts is to provide a technique of reasoning which assists us in connecting individual facts, but which, like logic or mathematics, is not about the facts. It can, therefore, and this is the second point, never be verified or falsified by reference to facts.

One of the difficulties in raising public concern over the very severe threats of global warming is that 40 percent of the US population does not see why it is a problem, since Christ is returning in a few decades. About the same percentage believe that the world was created a few thousand years ago. If science conflicts with the Bible, so much the worse for science. It would be hard to find an analogue in other societies.

Economics, when you strip away the guff and mathematical sophistry, is largely about incentives.

Pulling bad science apart is the best teaching gimmick I know for explaining how good science really works.

Creationists have also changed their name ... to intelligent design theorists who study 'irreducible complexity' and the 'abrupt appearance' of life—yet more jargon for 'God did it.' ... Notice that they have no interest in replacing evolution with native American creation myths or including the Code of Hammurabi alongside the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools.

It's cloaked in cultural mumbo jumbo, but I assure you that it is very hard science.

A sedução do maravilhoso embota nossas faculdades críticas.

Si no conocemos los procesos que nos llevan a creer ciertas cosas, no seremos capaces de evitar creer ciertas cosas que en realidad son ficciones sin fundamento. Son cosas que aprisionan la mente como una soporífera y pesada tela de araña, y no le permiten cobrar altura. Son cosas que si usted las cree pueden llevarlo a la muerte prematura, y no querrá usted morir antes de tiempo, ¿verdad?

Sin un temperamento científico el ciudadano es vulnerable a la tentación de lo mágico, a la seducción de la pasión y a la tiranía del dogmatismo. Demasiada gente muere por fe y mata por dogma.