1 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:21,510 [Music] 2 00:00:26,550 --> 00:00:23,100 logical fallacies 3 00:00:29,349 --> 00:00:26,560 [Music] 4 00:00:31,189 --> 00:00:29,359 what are logical fallacies and why is it 5 00:00:33,830 --> 00:00:31,199 important that critical thinkers should 6 00:00:36,150 --> 00:00:33,840 know about them 7 00:00:37,830 --> 00:00:36,160 a logical fallacy is an error we can 8 00:00:39,830 --> 00:00:37,840 make in reasoning 9 00:00:44,229 --> 00:00:39,840 but it usually crops up when we are 10 00:00:46,310 --> 00:00:44,239 discussing or arguing our point of view 11 00:00:48,549 --> 00:00:46,320 some people might even knowingly use 12 00:00:49,430 --> 00:00:48,559 them to try and score cheap points in an 13 00:00:52,709 --> 00:00:49,440 argument 14 00:00:55,270 --> 00:00:52,719 due to intellectual laziness 15 00:00:57,110 --> 00:00:55,280 they are traps we can fall into but if 16 00:00:59,189 --> 00:00:57,120 we know what to look out for 17 00:01:02,820 --> 00:00:59,199 we can spot them when they occur and 18 00:01:04,149 --> 00:01:02,830 stop ourselves from using them 19 00:01:08,789 --> 00:01:04,159 [Music] 20 00:01:15,350 --> 00:01:12,310 the ad hominin fallacy also known as an 21 00:01:17,190 --> 00:01:15,360 ad hominin attack is when you make 22 00:01:19,109 --> 00:01:17,200 negative points or comments about 23 00:01:22,149 --> 00:01:19,119 aspects of your opponent 24 00:01:23,670 --> 00:01:22,159 sometimes personal instead of attacking 25 00:01:27,190 --> 00:01:23,680 their point of view 26 00:01:30,390 --> 00:01:27,200 or their argument the term ad hominem 27 00:01:33,590 --> 00:01:30,400 comes from latin and translates as 28 00:01:34,870 --> 00:01:33,600 against the man you may also have heard 29 00:01:38,630 --> 00:01:34,880 the expression 30 00:01:41,190 --> 00:01:38,640 to play the man and not the ball 31 00:01:43,109 --> 00:01:41,200 so instead of making our argument by 32 00:01:45,830 --> 00:01:43,119 looking at and tackling the points 33 00:01:46,469 --> 00:01:45,840 made by our opponent we might attack 34 00:01:49,270 --> 00:01:46,479 something 35 00:01:50,630 --> 00:01:49,280 about them that we and maybe others 36 00:01:53,350 --> 00:01:50,640 don't like 37 00:01:55,670 --> 00:01:53,360 or try to paint them in a bad light in 38 00:01:57,990 --> 00:01:55,680 the hope of scoring points 39 00:02:00,550 --> 00:01:58,000 you didn't even attend a university or 40 00:02:02,550 --> 00:02:00,560 have any degrees at all 41 00:02:04,389 --> 00:02:02,560 you are in no position to lecture me on 42 00:02:06,709 --> 00:02:04,399 this topic 43 00:02:08,070 --> 00:02:06,719 if your opponent's argument is based on 44 00:02:10,469 --> 00:02:08,080 good grounds 45 00:02:13,110 --> 00:02:10,479 it really doesn't matter if they went to 46 00:02:15,430 --> 00:02:13,120 a university or not 47 00:02:17,030 --> 00:02:15,440 if a person with only a rudimentary 48 00:02:19,270 --> 00:02:17,040 education 49 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:19,280 says the world is round and the sky is 50 00:02:24,710 --> 00:02:20,560 blue 51 00:02:26,869 --> 00:02:24,720 they are still right but be careful 52 00:02:29,030 --> 00:02:26,879 a lack of education in a particular 53 00:02:30,229 --> 00:02:29,040 topic can weaken your opponent's 54 00:02:35,030 --> 00:02:30,239 argument 55 00:02:37,110 --> 00:02:35,040 expertise 56 00:02:39,110 --> 00:02:37,120 i don't think a person from your 57 00:02:39,910 --> 00:02:39,120 background can really comment on these 58 00:02:41,589 --> 00:02:39,920 matters 59 00:02:43,430 --> 00:02:41,599 what would you know you weren't even 60 00:02:45,670 --> 00:02:43,440 born here 61 00:02:47,990 --> 00:02:45,680 where someone comes from or other 62 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:48,000 aspects of their life and upbringing 63 00:02:53,030 --> 00:02:50,080 does not mean their point of view is 64 00:02:55,990 --> 00:02:53,040 therefore automatically wrong 65 00:02:57,990 --> 00:02:56,000 listen to the argument itself and don't 66 00:03:01,270 --> 00:02:58,000 let other aspects of the person 67 00:03:03,350 --> 00:03:01,280 making that argument sway you one way or 68 00:03:05,990 --> 00:03:03,360 another 69 00:03:07,830 --> 00:03:06,000 you also support the government or the 70 00:03:10,710 --> 00:03:07,840 president or the prime minister 71 00:03:12,149 --> 00:03:10,720 so of course you would say that 72 00:03:14,309 --> 00:03:12,159 someone's point of view 73 00:03:16,229 --> 00:03:14,319 may well be colored by what political 74 00:03:18,710 --> 00:03:16,239 party they support 75 00:03:19,509 --> 00:03:18,720 but again that does not mean their 76 00:03:22,390 --> 00:03:19,519 arguments 77 00:03:25,509 --> 00:03:22,400 are automatically wrong or automatically 78 00:03:29,670 --> 00:03:28,390 watch out for the ad hominem attack if 79 00:03:33,030 --> 00:03:29,680 somebody attacks 80 00:03:34,949 --> 00:03:33,040 aspects of you and not your arguments 81 00:03:36,630 --> 00:03:34,959 tell them to stick to the question at 82 00:03:38,949 --> 00:03:36,640 hand 83 00:03:40,309 --> 00:03:38,959 if you find yourself attacking something 84 00:03:43,509 --> 00:03:40,319 about your opponent 85 00:03:46,470 --> 00:03:43,519 you don't like it might be time to stop 86 00:03:51,130 --> 00:03:46,480 and wonder if your own arguments are on 87 00:03:51,140 --> 00:03:59,350 [Music] 88 00:04:03,030 --> 00:04:01,190 this week we'll look at the appeal to 89 00:04:05,670 --> 00:04:03,040 authority 90 00:04:06,949 --> 00:04:05,680 the use of the perceived knowledge or 91 00:04:09,670 --> 00:04:06,959 expertise 92 00:04:10,630 --> 00:04:09,680 or even celebrity of someone or an 93 00:04:12,789 --> 00:04:10,640 institution 94 00:04:15,509 --> 00:04:12,799 to add weight to your argument or to 95 00:04:17,830 --> 00:04:15,519 justify your decisions 96 00:04:19,349 --> 00:04:17,840 in science there are no ultimate 97 00:04:22,390 --> 00:04:19,359 authorities 98 00:04:25,430 --> 00:04:22,400 now what do i mean by this 99 00:04:27,749 --> 00:04:25,440 no one no matter how qualified they 100 00:04:29,350 --> 00:04:27,759 are in their special field of knowledge 101 00:04:33,350 --> 00:04:29,360 is regarded as having 102 00:04:35,590 --> 00:04:33,360 all the answers and always being right 103 00:04:38,950 --> 00:04:35,600 there may well be other experts in the 104 00:04:41,510 --> 00:04:38,960 same area of knowledge who disagree 105 00:04:43,350 --> 00:04:41,520 like the rest of us even experts can 106 00:04:46,710 --> 00:04:43,360 make mistakes 107 00:04:48,950 --> 00:04:46,720 as science is an ongoing process no one 108 00:04:52,070 --> 00:04:48,960 could ever have the final answers in a 109 00:04:54,710 --> 00:04:52,080 field of knowledge or study 110 00:04:56,550 --> 00:04:54,720 also someone who is regarded as an 111 00:04:59,670 --> 00:04:56,560 authority or expert 112 00:05:01,350 --> 00:04:59,680 in one area of knowledge astronomy for 113 00:05:03,270 --> 00:05:01,360 example 114 00:05:04,469 --> 00:05:03,280 may not be qualified to comment on 115 00:05:07,830 --> 00:05:04,479 climate science 116 00:05:11,749 --> 00:05:07,840 or geology and so on 117 00:05:14,950 --> 00:05:11,759 i know homeopathy works it's based on 118 00:05:17,029 --> 00:05:14,960 energy frequencies even albert einstein 119 00:05:18,950 --> 00:05:17,039 knew this when he said 120 00:05:20,230 --> 00:05:18,960 everything is energy and that's all 121 00:05:22,790 --> 00:05:20,240 there is to it 122 00:05:24,070 --> 00:05:22,800 match the frequency of the reality you 123 00:05:26,950 --> 00:05:24,080 want and you cannot 124 00:05:27,749 --> 00:05:26,960 help but get that reality it can be no 125 00:05:30,790 --> 00:05:27,759 other way 126 00:05:33,670 --> 00:05:30,800 this is not philosophy this is physics 127 00:05:35,909 --> 00:05:33,680 poor old einstein his name has been used 128 00:05:36,629 --> 00:05:35,919 so many times over the decades to 129 00:05:40,230 --> 00:05:36,639 justify 130 00:05:42,790 --> 00:05:40,240 all sorts of claims not only did 131 00:05:43,590 --> 00:05:42,800 einstein never say this classic fake 132 00:05:49,270 --> 00:05:43,600 quote 133 00:05:50,070 --> 00:05:49,280 it is just a bunch of science-sounding 134 00:05:52,230 --> 00:05:50,080 words 135 00:05:54,150 --> 00:05:52,240 mashed together in something we call a 136 00:05:56,710 --> 00:05:54,160 word salad 137 00:05:58,070 --> 00:05:56,720 the important thing to remember is that 138 00:06:01,430 --> 00:05:58,080 invoking the name of 139 00:06:04,309 --> 00:06:01,440 einstein or anyone else does not 140 00:06:07,430 --> 00:06:04,319 therefore mean your point is correct 141 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:07,440 i always eat mint ice biscuits in the 142 00:06:10,469 --> 00:06:08,240 evening 143 00:06:11,590 --> 00:06:10,479 i know they're good as world uphill 144 00:06:14,710 --> 00:06:11,600 skiing champion 145 00:06:17,270 --> 00:06:14,720 mary boyd endorses them or 146 00:06:17,909 --> 00:06:17,280 i believe in the new age healing power 147 00:06:20,790 --> 00:06:17,919 of 148 00:06:22,710 --> 00:06:20,800 reconnected energy spirits i mean if 149 00:06:23,590 --> 00:06:22,720 it's good enough for movie star alfreda 150 00:06:26,550 --> 00:06:23,600 parks 151 00:06:27,749 --> 00:06:26,560 it's good enough for me just because 152 00:06:30,550 --> 00:06:27,759 someone famous 153 00:06:32,070 --> 00:06:30,560 or someone you admire advertises or 154 00:06:35,510 --> 00:06:32,080 endorses a product 155 00:06:36,550 --> 00:06:35,520 or even an idea or philosophy it doesn't 156 00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:36,560 mean that the 157 00:06:43,510 --> 00:06:39,600 product or idea is the right one for you 158 00:06:45,909 --> 00:06:43,520 or anyone else many people can be 159 00:06:47,270 --> 00:06:45,919 convinced of the amazing health benefits 160 00:06:49,589 --> 00:06:47,280 of something 161 00:06:51,830 --> 00:06:49,599 only to find out later it was just a 162 00:06:53,749 --> 00:06:51,840 placebo 163 00:06:56,230 --> 00:06:53,759 of course it might be a fine product 164 00:06:59,990 --> 00:06:56,240 after all and really work 165 00:07:02,629 --> 00:07:00,000 but try to judge it on its own merits 166 00:07:03,189 --> 00:07:02,639 mint ice biscuits aren't any better or 167 00:07:05,749 --> 00:07:03,199 worse 168 00:07:07,830 --> 00:07:05,759 just because someone you like promotes 169 00:07:10,150 --> 00:07:07,840 them 170 00:07:12,070 --> 00:07:10,160 it's important to keep in mind that many 171 00:07:14,070 --> 00:07:12,080 times experts in their field 172 00:07:15,990 --> 00:07:14,080 are called experts because they have 173 00:07:19,270 --> 00:07:16,000 studied a subject over many 174 00:07:21,430 --> 00:07:19,280 years and often do indeed know what they 175 00:07:22,950 --> 00:07:21,440 are talking about 176 00:07:26,070 --> 00:07:22,960 they have earned the right to be 177 00:07:30,230 --> 00:07:26,080 listened to but in the end 178 00:07:39,029 --> 00:07:30,240 even they can be wrong 179 00:07:40,870 --> 00:07:39,039 [Music] 180 00:07:43,430 --> 00:07:40,880 this week we'll look at the appeal to 181 00:07:46,710 --> 00:07:43,440 antiquity 182 00:07:49,189 --> 00:07:46,720 also known as the appeal to tradition 183 00:07:50,710 --> 00:07:49,199 this is when you argue an idea or 184 00:07:53,670 --> 00:07:50,720 practice is valid 185 00:07:55,350 --> 00:07:53,680 because it has been in use or even 186 00:07:59,430 --> 00:07:55,360 thought to have been in use 187 00:08:01,510 --> 00:07:59,440 for tens hundreds or thousands of years 188 00:08:02,790 --> 00:08:01,520 many ideas have withstood the test of 189 00:08:05,589 --> 00:08:02,800 time 190 00:08:08,629 --> 00:08:05,599 our ancient ancestors discovered amazing 191 00:08:10,790 --> 00:08:08,639 things that still hold true today 192 00:08:14,070 --> 00:08:10,800 if you eat certain plants they will make 193 00:08:16,550 --> 00:08:14,080 you sick whereas if you eat other plants 194 00:08:18,150 --> 00:08:16,560 they can help make you feel better and 195 00:08:21,189 --> 00:08:18,160 so on 196 00:08:21,749 --> 00:08:21,199 but that doesn't mean that every idea or 197 00:08:24,070 --> 00:08:21,759 practice 198 00:08:26,950 --> 00:08:24,080 used for many years is therefore right 199 00:08:28,629 --> 00:08:26,960 or even real people have been doing it 200 00:08:32,070 --> 00:08:28,639 this way for generations 201 00:08:35,430 --> 00:08:32,080 if it worked for them it must be right 202 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:35,440 maybe or maybe not for many years it was 203 00:08:39,829 --> 00:08:37,120 thought that bloodletting or bleeding 204 00:08:41,829 --> 00:08:39,839 sick people would help cure them 205 00:08:43,509 --> 00:08:41,839 this was done for generation after 206 00:08:46,150 --> 00:08:43,519 generation 207 00:08:48,310 --> 00:08:46,160 however we now know that this was far 208 00:08:50,790 --> 00:08:48,320 more harmful than helpful 209 00:08:53,829 --> 00:08:50,800 raw milk is safe to drink as our 210 00:08:55,430 --> 00:08:53,839 ancestors did so for thousands of years 211 00:08:58,470 --> 00:08:55,440 and they were fine 212 00:08:59,590 --> 00:08:58,480 firstly our ancestors did in fact 213 00:09:03,509 --> 00:08:59,600 sometimes become 214 00:09:05,990 --> 00:09:03,519 sick from drinking raw milk furthermore 215 00:09:06,550 --> 00:09:06,000 the industrial revolution resulted in 216 00:09:09,590 --> 00:09:06,560 increased 217 00:09:11,670 --> 00:09:09,600 transportation and storage times of milk 218 00:09:14,150 --> 00:09:11,680 rendering it less safe than when it was 219 00:09:16,030 --> 00:09:14,160 drunk at the farm of origin 220 00:09:17,269 --> 00:09:16,040 this led to the development of 221 00:09:19,590 --> 00:09:17,279 pasteurization 222 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:19,600 which helped provide safe milk without 223 00:09:24,949 --> 00:09:22,480 any reduction in nutrition 224 00:09:27,670 --> 00:09:24,959 it has saved countless lives as it kills 225 00:09:28,389 --> 00:09:27,680 harmful organisms responsible for such 226 00:09:31,870 --> 00:09:28,399 diseases 227 00:09:35,190 --> 00:09:31,880 as listeriosis typhoid fever 228 00:09:37,509 --> 00:09:35,200 tuberculosis and diphtheria 229 00:09:39,509 --> 00:09:37,519 foodborne illnesses are particularly 230 00:09:40,389 --> 00:09:39,519 dangerous for anyone with weakened 231 00:09:43,430 --> 00:09:40,399 immunity 232 00:09:45,269 --> 00:09:43,440 such as the elderly young children and 233 00:09:47,430 --> 00:09:45,279 pregnant women 234 00:09:50,310 --> 00:09:47,440 others with more robust immunity will 235 00:09:51,829 --> 00:09:50,320 probably survive food poisoning but it's 236 00:09:54,470 --> 00:09:51,839 an unnecessarily 237 00:09:55,269 --> 00:09:54,480 unpleasant experience that can be 238 00:09:58,230 --> 00:09:55,279 avoided 239 00:10:00,150 --> 00:09:58,240 by drinking pasteurized milk rather than 240 00:10:02,550 --> 00:10:00,160 raw milk 241 00:10:04,470 --> 00:10:02,560 just because a practice has existed for 242 00:10:06,310 --> 00:10:04,480 many generations 243 00:10:08,790 --> 00:10:06,320 that doesn't make the belief in the 244 00:10:11,430 --> 00:10:08,800 practice true 245 00:10:12,389 --> 00:10:11,440 homeopathy is hundreds of years old if 246 00:10:15,509 --> 00:10:12,399 it didn't work 247 00:10:18,310 --> 00:10:15,519 no one would use it yet millions of 248 00:10:20,470 --> 00:10:18,320 people rely on it and use it every day 249 00:10:21,670 --> 00:10:20,480 there is no doubt in the scientific 250 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:21,680 community that 251 00:10:27,990 --> 00:10:25,760 homeopathy does not work and cannot work 252 00:10:28,949 --> 00:10:28,000 the principles on which it is based have 253 00:10:32,150 --> 00:10:28,959 been shown 254 00:10:35,110 --> 00:10:32,160 over the years to be false to be 255 00:10:37,269 --> 00:10:35,120 fair it was invented at a time when our 256 00:10:41,990 --> 00:10:37,279 knowledge of medicine and biology was 257 00:10:45,670 --> 00:10:44,790 and by the way it does not matter how 258 00:10:47,990 --> 00:10:45,680 many people 259 00:10:49,430 --> 00:10:48,000 think something works or something is 260 00:10:51,590 --> 00:10:49,440 right 261 00:10:53,030 --> 00:10:51,600 that is known as the appeal to 262 00:10:58,829 --> 00:10:53,040 popularity 263 00:10:58,839 --> 00:11:03,690 segment 264 00:11:08,470 --> 00:11:06,310 [Music] 265 00:11:10,790 --> 00:11:08,480 this week we'll look at the appeal to 266 00:11:14,310 --> 00:11:10,800 popularity 267 00:11:16,069 --> 00:11:14,320 also known as being on the bandwagon 268 00:11:17,350 --> 00:11:16,079 this is when you try to add weight to 269 00:11:20,550 --> 00:11:17,360 your point of view by 270 00:11:23,269 --> 00:11:20,560 pointing out that many people also agree 271 00:11:23,910 --> 00:11:23,279 with you we've all seen this sort of 272 00:11:27,269 --> 00:11:23,920 thing 273 00:11:29,590 --> 00:11:27,279 especially from advertisers who claim 274 00:11:30,630 --> 00:11:29,600 thousands of people use our product 275 00:11:33,750 --> 00:11:30,640 every day 276 00:11:36,310 --> 00:11:33,760 and they all can't be wrong well 277 00:11:37,509 --> 00:11:36,320 yes the product might work and be 278 00:11:40,389 --> 00:11:37,519 wonderful 279 00:11:42,790 --> 00:11:40,399 but at other times thousands of people 280 00:11:46,550 --> 00:11:42,800 can indeed be wrong 281 00:11:49,670 --> 00:11:46,560 everyone at school has one come on 282 00:11:51,750 --> 00:11:49,680 i really need this maybe you remember 283 00:11:54,150 --> 00:11:51,760 making this argument to your parents 284 00:11:56,790 --> 00:11:54,160 when you were at school 285 00:11:58,389 --> 00:11:56,800 something would come along a new toy or 286 00:12:02,150 --> 00:11:58,399 device maybe 287 00:12:06,069 --> 00:12:02,160 and it becomes very popular suddenly 288 00:12:09,590 --> 00:12:06,079 you having one as well is very important 289 00:12:10,389 --> 00:12:09,600 whatever it is might not really be that 290 00:12:14,470 --> 00:12:10,399 good 291 00:12:16,629 --> 00:12:14,480 but its popularity makes it desirable 292 00:12:19,509 --> 00:12:16,639 all my friends use homeopathy to treat 293 00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:19,519 everything from rash to insomnia 294 00:12:24,550 --> 00:12:22,880 this discredited medical quackery simply 295 00:12:28,069 --> 00:12:24,560 does not and 296 00:12:30,230 --> 00:12:28,079 cannot work as claimed yet 297 00:12:31,110 --> 00:12:30,240 thousands and thousands of people all 298 00:12:34,550 --> 00:12:31,120 over the world 299 00:12:37,590 --> 00:12:34,560 swear by it just because some 300 00:12:40,790 --> 00:12:37,600 or many people use a product or believe 301 00:12:44,790 --> 00:12:40,800 in something it doesn't mean it works 302 00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:44,800 or it's real if one person can be wrong 303 00:12:48,949 --> 00:12:46,000 about something 304 00:12:51,430 --> 00:12:48,959 then hundreds or thousands or millions 305 00:12:53,350 --> 00:12:51,440 can be as well 306 00:12:54,790 --> 00:12:53,360 by far the majority of climate 307 00:12:57,190 --> 00:12:54,800 scientists agree 308 00:12:58,310 --> 00:12:57,200 that climate change is real and humans 309 00:13:02,069 --> 00:12:58,320 are a major 310 00:13:04,629 --> 00:13:02,079 contributing factor now here's the flip 311 00:13:08,470 --> 00:13:04,639 side of this logical fallacy 312 00:13:11,829 --> 00:13:08,480 sometimes the weight of opinion is right 313 00:13:14,949 --> 00:13:11,839 science can and does change its mind 314 00:13:17,509 --> 00:13:14,959 but it relies largely on consensus 315 00:13:22,710 --> 00:13:17,519 in other words on the conclusion of most 316 00:13:27,430 --> 00:13:25,590 in the end the popularity of an idea 317 00:13:28,949 --> 00:13:27,440 should not determine the validity of 318 00:13:31,750 --> 00:13:28,959 that idea 319 00:13:32,150 --> 00:13:31,760 it must stand or fall on its own merits 320 00:13:34,310 --> 00:13:32,160 but 321 00:13:35,990 --> 00:13:34,320 it is appealing to think that if many 322 00:13:40,570 --> 00:13:36,000 people agree with you 323 00:13:50,710 --> 00:13:47,590 [Music] 324 00:13:53,430 --> 00:13:50,720 this week we'll look at straw man 325 00:13:54,069 --> 00:13:53,440 this is when we substitute a person's 326 00:13:57,670 --> 00:13:54,079 actual 327 00:14:01,110 --> 00:13:57,680 position or argument with a distorted 328 00:14:03,430 --> 00:14:01,120 exaggerated or misrepresented version of 329 00:14:05,670 --> 00:14:03,440 their position or point of view 330 00:14:08,710 --> 00:14:05,680 a straw man or a figure made out of 331 00:14:11,110 --> 00:14:08,720 straw is easy to burn down 332 00:14:13,750 --> 00:14:11,120 it is far easier to attack something 333 00:14:16,150 --> 00:14:13,760 weak even if it has nothing to do with 334 00:14:19,430 --> 00:14:16,160 what your opponent is trying to say 335 00:14:20,550 --> 00:14:19,440 than to attack a strong argument she 336 00:14:22,790 --> 00:14:20,560 said she 337 00:14:24,310 --> 00:14:22,800 briefly saw something that appeared 338 00:14:27,030 --> 00:14:24,320 light and creepy 339 00:14:28,550 --> 00:14:27,040 and she couldn't figure out what it was 340 00:14:32,230 --> 00:14:28,560 why would she resort to 341 00:14:33,990 --> 00:14:32,240 ghosts as an explanation the original 342 00:14:36,949 --> 00:14:34,000 person did not actually 343 00:14:39,269 --> 00:14:36,959 state that she thought she saw a ghost 344 00:14:41,670 --> 00:14:39,279 her point has been taken further 345 00:14:44,870 --> 00:14:41,680 and built up into something more extreme 346 00:14:47,509 --> 00:14:44,880 that is considered nonsense 347 00:14:49,829 --> 00:14:47,519 it's much easier to just knock down a 348 00:14:52,150 --> 00:14:49,839 suggestion that a ghost appeared 349 00:14:54,230 --> 00:14:52,160 than to delve into the possible causes 350 00:14:56,829 --> 00:14:54,240 of what was experienced 351 00:14:58,550 --> 00:14:56,839 especially if no explanations can be 352 00:15:01,269 --> 00:14:58,560 provided 353 00:15:03,590 --> 00:15:01,279 by misrepresenting the original claim it 354 00:15:06,790 --> 00:15:03,600 can then be dismissed outright 355 00:15:07,990 --> 00:15:06,800 rather than addressed the government is 356 00:15:10,470 --> 00:15:08,000 hiding the fact that 357 00:15:12,550 --> 00:15:10,480 aliens are living on earth that air 358 00:15:13,750 --> 00:15:12,560 force testing ranges are off limits and 359 00:15:16,710 --> 00:15:13,760 highly guarded 360 00:15:18,150 --> 00:15:16,720 is evidence that aliens are being held 361 00:15:20,470 --> 00:15:18,160 there 362 00:15:22,949 --> 00:15:20,480 of course the air force range is off 363 00:15:25,030 --> 00:15:22,959 limits and highly guarded 364 00:15:26,310 --> 00:15:25,040 this is true no matter what country 365 00:15:28,550 --> 00:15:26,320 you're in 366 00:15:30,310 --> 00:15:28,560 but this fact has nothing to do with 367 00:15:33,110 --> 00:15:30,320 whether or not aliens or 368 00:15:33,430 --> 00:15:33,120 anything else are being kept a secret 369 00:15:37,030 --> 00:15:33,440 you 370 00:15:40,069 --> 00:15:37,040 abilities 371 00:15:42,710 --> 00:15:40,079 but your tests are impossible to pass 372 00:15:43,749 --> 00:15:42,720 i never said i was one hundred percent 373 00:15:45,990 --> 00:15:43,759 accurate 374 00:15:48,550 --> 00:15:46,000 this excuse from people claiming psychic 375 00:15:50,790 --> 00:15:48,560 powers in order to not be tested 376 00:15:53,189 --> 00:15:50,800 is one we've heard again and again over 377 00:15:55,509 --> 00:15:53,199 the decades 378 00:15:56,710 --> 00:15:55,519 skeptics never impose a condition of 379 00:16:00,069 --> 00:15:56,720 being 100 380 00:16:02,230 --> 00:16:00,079 accurate in a test of paranormal powers 381 00:16:04,150 --> 00:16:02,240 our real position is that we will test 382 00:16:06,230 --> 00:16:04,160 someone based on what they say their 383 00:16:10,069 --> 00:16:06,240 success rate is 384 00:16:14,069 --> 00:16:10,079 maybe they only claim 75 accuracy 385 00:16:17,110 --> 00:16:14,079 that's fine we can test for that 386 00:16:17,670 --> 00:16:17,120 by saying we insist on 100 they are 387 00:16:20,310 --> 00:16:17,680 using a 388 00:16:21,269 --> 00:16:20,320 totally exaggerated and false condition 389 00:16:23,590 --> 00:16:21,279 of a test 390 00:16:26,230 --> 00:16:23,600 to make it appear that skeptics are 391 00:16:28,550 --> 00:16:26,240 unreasonable 392 00:16:29,829 --> 00:16:28,560 many so-called psychics will look for 393 00:16:32,949 --> 00:16:29,839 any excuse 394 00:16:35,590 --> 00:16:32,959 not to take the skeptic's challenge 395 00:16:37,590 --> 00:16:35,600 but you might be interested to know that 396 00:16:39,269 --> 00:16:37,600 many people claiming to be water 397 00:16:41,590 --> 00:16:39,279 diviners 398 00:16:43,670 --> 00:16:41,600 that is to have the power to find 399 00:16:46,790 --> 00:16:43,680 underground water or metals 400 00:16:48,829 --> 00:16:46,800 using divining rods or pendulums often 401 00:16:52,710 --> 00:16:48,839 claim to be a hundred percent 402 00:16:54,790 --> 00:16:52,720 accurate it can be tricky to tell when 403 00:16:56,310 --> 00:16:54,800 your opponent sets up a straw man to 404 00:16:59,189 --> 00:16:56,320 burn down 405 00:17:00,069 --> 00:16:59,199 if you spot it point out that what they 406 00:17:02,310 --> 00:17:00,079 are saying is 407 00:17:03,990 --> 00:17:02,320 not really representative of your point 408 00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:04,000 of view 409 00:17:08,069 --> 00:17:06,640 as always don't get too upset if you 410 00:17:22,230 --> 00:17:08,079 miss it 411 00:17:29,029 --> 00:17:25,750 this week we'll look at post hoc ergo 412 00:17:31,830 --> 00:17:29,039 propter hoc also known as 413 00:17:32,870 --> 00:17:31,840 assuming the cause the faulty causal 414 00:17:35,990 --> 00:17:32,880 assumption 415 00:17:36,390 --> 00:17:36,000 or just post hoc this is when two events 416 00:17:38,789 --> 00:17:36,400 occur 417 00:17:39,990 --> 00:17:38,799 in succession and it is believed that 418 00:17:42,630 --> 00:17:40,000 the first event 419 00:17:43,990 --> 00:17:42,640 must have caused the second event i want 420 00:17:46,470 --> 00:17:44,000 to put it another way 421 00:17:47,669 --> 00:17:46,480 the second event is a result of the 422 00:17:49,590 --> 00:17:47,679 first event 423 00:17:51,750 --> 00:17:49,600 it's the fallacy that applies when 424 00:17:54,470 --> 00:17:51,760 believing in superstition like 425 00:17:55,830 --> 00:17:54,480 positive outcomes due to lucky charms 426 00:17:58,789 --> 00:17:55,840 etc 427 00:17:59,430 --> 00:17:58,799 it also commonly occurs when alternative 428 00:18:02,549 --> 00:17:59,440 medicine 429 00:18:04,870 --> 00:18:02,559 is credited as providing a cure or 430 00:18:07,590 --> 00:18:04,880 science-based medicine is blamed for an 431 00:18:10,150 --> 00:18:07,600 unrelated condition 432 00:18:11,669 --> 00:18:10,160 we all know mother's chicken soup will 433 00:18:14,870 --> 00:18:11,679 cure the common cold 434 00:18:17,110 --> 00:18:14,880 right i mean only a few days 435 00:18:18,390 --> 00:18:17,120 after you eat some the cold will get 436 00:18:20,470 --> 00:18:18,400 better 437 00:18:21,750 --> 00:18:20,480 i put up an umbrella in the house today 438 00:18:24,310 --> 00:18:21,760 and you know what 439 00:18:25,669 --> 00:18:24,320 shortly after i lost my wallet good 440 00:18:28,710 --> 00:18:25,679 things and bad things 441 00:18:31,430 --> 00:18:28,720 happen to us all normally 442 00:18:32,710 --> 00:18:31,440 that's just part of everyday life and we 443 00:18:35,830 --> 00:18:32,720 don't think much about 444 00:18:37,909 --> 00:18:35,840 it once in a while however something 445 00:18:40,789 --> 00:18:37,919 very bad happens to us 446 00:18:42,070 --> 00:18:40,799 and we are left looking for a reason 447 00:18:45,590 --> 00:18:42,080 putting up an umbrella 448 00:18:47,350 --> 00:18:45,600 inside walking under a ladder or a black 449 00:18:50,390 --> 00:18:47,360 cat crossing your path 450 00:18:51,350 --> 00:18:50,400 are all classic superstitions and it's 451 00:18:54,310 --> 00:18:51,360 easy to see 452 00:18:56,150 --> 00:18:54,320 why some people might latch onto these 453 00:18:59,750 --> 00:18:56,160 when looking for a reason 454 00:19:03,190 --> 00:18:59,760 as to why they had bad luck later on 455 00:19:06,630 --> 00:19:03,200 oh and don't forget superstitions 456 00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:06,640 are as webster's dictionary has it 457 00:19:10,470 --> 00:19:09,120 a belief or practice resulting from 458 00:19:14,070 --> 00:19:10,480 ignorance 459 00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:14,080 fear of the unknown trust in magic or 460 00:19:18,789 --> 00:19:15,120 chance 461 00:19:20,789 --> 00:19:18,799 or a false conception of causation 462 00:19:21,909 --> 00:19:20,799 i was perfectly healthy until i started 463 00:19:25,029 --> 00:19:21,919 using a 5g 464 00:19:27,110 --> 00:19:25,039 cell phone now i have cancer 465 00:19:29,669 --> 00:19:27,120 it could be insensitive to start 466 00:19:32,310 --> 00:19:29,679 schooling a person battling cancer on 467 00:19:34,870 --> 00:19:32,320 its possible causes 468 00:19:37,350 --> 00:19:34,880 but i think we can understand how people 469 00:19:39,750 --> 00:19:37,360 need to find a reason for things 470 00:19:41,750 --> 00:19:39,760 especially things they are trying to 471 00:19:43,350 --> 00:19:41,760 come to terms with 472 00:19:45,830 --> 00:19:43,360 even if they come to the wrong 473 00:19:51,430 --> 00:19:45,840 conclusion 474 00:19:55,029 --> 00:19:51,440 none at all 475 00:19:58,070 --> 00:19:55,039 why did this happen to me is a question 476 00:20:01,430 --> 00:19:58,080 as old as our species 477 00:20:03,270 --> 00:20:01,440 in this case the reality is that while 478 00:20:06,870 --> 00:20:03,280 ionizing radiation 479 00:20:09,669 --> 00:20:06,880 is indeed dangerous the non-ionizing 480 00:20:10,950 --> 00:20:09,679 level of radiation we are exposed to via 481 00:20:15,190 --> 00:20:10,960 5g 482 00:20:17,909 --> 00:20:15,200 does not present any known risks to us 483 00:20:19,190 --> 00:20:17,919 the worst we are likely to experience is 484 00:20:22,390 --> 00:20:19,200 warming on the skin 485 00:20:24,070 --> 00:20:22,400 that is so slight that we won't even 486 00:20:26,549 --> 00:20:24,080 notice it 487 00:20:28,789 --> 00:20:26,559 but this fact doesn't stop people from 488 00:20:32,230 --> 00:20:28,799 blaming it for health problems 489 00:20:32,950 --> 00:20:32,240 real or imagined i was suffering from 490 00:20:36,870 --> 00:20:32,960 too many 491 00:20:39,669 --> 00:20:36,880 negative emotions until i tried smudging 492 00:20:41,110 --> 00:20:39,679 since then my mind is clear and i feel 493 00:20:43,669 --> 00:20:41,120 positive 494 00:20:45,110 --> 00:20:43,679 smudging is a practice trending in the 495 00:20:47,350 --> 00:20:45,120 wellness industry 496 00:20:49,110 --> 00:20:47,360 that has been popularized by social 497 00:20:51,990 --> 00:20:49,120 media 498 00:20:54,310 --> 00:20:52,000 in western culture it involves burning 499 00:20:56,870 --> 00:20:54,320 small bundles of foliage containing 500 00:20:59,190 --> 00:20:56,880 white sage that are commercially 501 00:21:01,750 --> 00:20:59,200 available in kits 502 00:21:02,630 --> 00:21:01,760 it is based on the ancient ceremonial 503 00:21:05,590 --> 00:21:02,640 practice 504 00:21:07,430 --> 00:21:05,600 of sage burning by first nations people 505 00:21:10,149 --> 00:21:07,440 in the americas 506 00:21:11,990 --> 00:21:10,159 maybe in some ways smudging does offer 507 00:21:14,149 --> 00:21:12,000 some help 508 00:21:16,390 --> 00:21:14,159 perhaps the act of waving the smoking 509 00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:16,400 sticks around is enjoyable 510 00:21:21,110 --> 00:21:18,720 and negative emotions are replaced with 511 00:21:23,350 --> 00:21:21,120 positive ones 512 00:21:26,549 --> 00:21:23,360 and let's not forget how powerful 513 00:21:29,510 --> 00:21:26,559 rituals are in human societies 514 00:21:30,230 --> 00:21:29,520 however there are no chemical properties 515 00:21:32,789 --> 00:21:30,240 of smoke 516 00:21:33,750 --> 00:21:32,799 that promote emotional and physical 517 00:21:37,270 --> 00:21:33,760 health 518 00:21:39,909 --> 00:21:37,280 in fact inhaling smoke is more likely to 519 00:21:42,870 --> 00:21:39,919 cause harm 520 00:21:45,510 --> 00:21:42,880 therefore it is a fallacy to think the 521 00:21:47,590 --> 00:21:45,520 improvement is caused by the smoky air 522 00:21:50,870 --> 00:21:47,600 per se 523 00:21:51,510 --> 00:21:50,880 it could also be a placebo effect or a 524 00:21:54,950 --> 00:21:51,520 mood that 525 00:21:57,350 --> 00:21:54,960 eventually improves on its own anyway 526 00:21:59,430 --> 00:21:57,360 my child was perfectly fine until they 527 00:22:01,750 --> 00:21:59,440 had the mmr vaccine 528 00:22:03,669 --> 00:22:01,760 then only months later they were 529 00:22:05,909 --> 00:22:03,679 diagnosed with autism 530 00:22:07,270 --> 00:22:05,919 here we see causality assigned 531 00:22:09,909 --> 00:22:07,280 incorrectly 532 00:22:10,470 --> 00:22:09,919 and the vaccines blamed as a cause for 533 00:22:14,149 --> 00:22:10,480 what is 534 00:22:17,190 --> 00:22:14,159 probably a genetic condition 535 00:22:20,310 --> 00:22:17,200 from systematic reviews of studies based 536 00:22:23,909 --> 00:22:20,320 on millions of children around the world 537 00:22:25,110 --> 00:22:23,919 we know that vaccines do not result in 538 00:22:29,190 --> 00:22:25,120 children developing 539 00:22:31,029 --> 00:22:29,200 autism the love and the need you have to 540 00:22:35,669 --> 00:22:31,039 protect your children 541 00:22:38,470 --> 00:22:35,679 can very easily colour your thinking 542 00:22:39,990 --> 00:22:38,480 how satisfying it is when we think we 543 00:22:43,750 --> 00:22:40,000 have found the reason why 544 00:22:45,430 --> 00:22:43,760 something is happening it's a very deep 545 00:22:48,390 --> 00:22:45,440 need within us all 546 00:22:52,830 --> 00:22:48,400 to find out the answer to the age-old 547 00:22:56,870 --> 00:22:54,149 why 548 00:22:58,390 --> 00:22:56,880 jumping to a false conclusion can be 549 00:23:02,230 --> 00:22:58,400 more satisfying 550 00:23:04,549 --> 00:23:02,240 than having no conclusion at all 551 00:23:06,830 --> 00:23:04,559 in the end when assigning credit or 552 00:23:08,230 --> 00:23:06,840 blame to one occurrence that preceded 553 00:23:11,110 --> 00:23:08,240 another be 554 00:23:12,789 --> 00:23:11,120 sure that you have credible evidence 555 00:23:25,990 --> 00:23:12,799 that there really is 556 00:23:30,149 --> 00:23:27,750 [Music] 557 00:23:31,750 --> 00:23:30,159 this week we'll look at begging the 558 00:23:34,710 --> 00:23:31,760 question 559 00:23:36,470 --> 00:23:34,720 also known as circular reasoning this is 560 00:23:37,270 --> 00:23:36,480 when the answer to the question is 561 00:23:39,909 --> 00:23:37,280 implied 562 00:23:41,510 --> 00:23:39,919 in the wording of the question itself 563 00:23:44,149 --> 00:23:41,520 the premise of the question 564 00:23:44,870 --> 00:23:44,159 and the foregone conclusion support each 565 00:23:48,149 --> 00:23:44,880 other in a 566 00:23:51,269 --> 00:23:48,159 circular way without referring to any 567 00:23:53,830 --> 00:23:51,279 external actual evidence we 568 00:23:54,789 --> 00:23:53,840 often hear the term that begs the 569 00:23:57,110 --> 00:23:54,799 question 570 00:24:00,070 --> 00:23:57,120 in tv and radio interviews with 571 00:24:02,390 --> 00:24:00,080 politicians for example 572 00:24:03,269 --> 00:24:02,400 what the interviewer really should say 573 00:24:06,310 --> 00:24:03,279 is 574 00:24:09,510 --> 00:24:06,320 that prompts the question or 575 00:24:12,630 --> 00:24:09,520 that raises the question as that 576 00:24:15,750 --> 00:24:12,640 is what they really mean when using the 577 00:24:17,990 --> 00:24:15,760 term to refer to a logical fallacy 578 00:24:20,710 --> 00:24:18,000 begging the question is not really 579 00:24:23,750 --> 00:24:20,720 asking a valid question at all 580 00:24:25,190 --> 00:24:23,760 but it does imply that the premise of 581 00:24:27,750 --> 00:24:25,200 the statement needs 582 00:24:28,950 --> 00:24:27,760 challenging before a conclusion can be 583 00:24:31,510 --> 00:24:28,960 drawn 584 00:24:33,909 --> 00:24:31,520 a skeptic how do you explain that my 585 00:24:35,350 --> 00:24:33,919 auntie saw a ufo when she was a girl in 586 00:24:38,470 --> 00:24:35,360 the 1970s 587 00:24:40,070 --> 00:24:38,480 it was as plain as day this example is 588 00:24:42,549 --> 00:24:40,080 based on a real question 589 00:24:43,909 --> 00:24:42,559 put to a skeptical investigator during 590 00:24:46,630 --> 00:24:43,919 an interview 591 00:24:47,110 --> 00:24:46,640 within the question itself is the answer 592 00:24:52,310 --> 00:24:47,120 that the 593 00:24:55,190 --> 00:24:52,320 auntie did indeed see a real ufo 594 00:24:56,390 --> 00:24:55,200 not that the auntie said she thought she 595 00:25:02,310 --> 00:24:56,400 saw a ufo 596 00:25:03,029 --> 00:25:02,320 or said she saw something strange in the 597 00:25:06,870 --> 00:25:03,039 sky 598 00:25:09,590 --> 00:25:06,880 but did in fact see a real ufo 599 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:09,600 and remember that in common usage ufo 600 00:25:13,830 --> 00:25:10,720 does not mean 601 00:25:17,510 --> 00:25:13,840 unidentified flying object it means 602 00:25:19,190 --> 00:25:17,520 alien spaceship it can be hard to try 603 00:25:21,750 --> 00:25:19,200 and answer this question without 604 00:25:24,149 --> 00:25:21,760 pointing out the logical fallacy 605 00:25:24,870 --> 00:25:24,159 a paranormal investigator was sent to 606 00:25:27,990 --> 00:25:24,880 investigate 607 00:25:29,110 --> 00:25:28,000 strange noises in an old house she 608 00:25:31,750 --> 00:25:29,120 looked at the owner and 609 00:25:32,870 --> 00:25:31,760 said ghosts have been known to make 610 00:25:35,990 --> 00:25:32,880 these noises 611 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:36,000 how long has this house been haunted 612 00:25:40,549 --> 00:25:38,400 here the investigator seems to have made 613 00:25:41,750 --> 00:25:40,559 up her mind that whatever the strange 614 00:25:44,789 --> 00:25:41,760 noises were 615 00:25:47,830 --> 00:25:44,799 they were the result of ghosts the 616 00:25:50,549 --> 00:25:47,840 question she put to the owner assumes 617 00:25:52,310 --> 00:25:50,559 not only the ghosts are real and the 618 00:25:56,070 --> 00:25:52,320 house is haunted 619 00:25:58,149 --> 00:25:56,080 but this is the cause of the noises 620 00:26:00,470 --> 00:25:58,159 i know my favorite alternative medicine 621 00:26:03,430 --> 00:26:00,480 works because it comes from nature 622 00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:03,440 and natural is best there is no reason 623 00:26:06,149 --> 00:26:04,240 to think 624 00:26:08,950 --> 00:26:06,159 that just because something comes from 625 00:26:10,470 --> 00:26:08,960 nature that it therefore works and is 626 00:26:12,710 --> 00:26:10,480 good for you 627 00:26:14,710 --> 00:26:12,720 there are many deadly poisons to be 628 00:26:17,669 --> 00:26:14,720 found in nature 629 00:26:18,390 --> 00:26:17,679 furthermore there is nothing to say that 630 00:26:21,909 --> 00:26:18,400 natural 631 00:26:24,630 --> 00:26:21,919 is better than artificial it's the dose 632 00:26:24,950 --> 00:26:24,640 that determines whether or not something 633 00:26:30,070 --> 00:26:24,960 is 634 00:26:32,549 --> 00:26:30,080 harmful helpful or just inapplicable 635 00:26:33,269 --> 00:26:32,559 declaring that something works or is 636 00:26:35,909 --> 00:26:33,279 good 637 00:26:36,710 --> 00:26:35,919 just because it comes from nature is 638 00:26:40,549 --> 00:26:36,720 indeed 639 00:26:47,510 --> 00:26:40,559 begging the question and is also 640 00:26:50,950 --> 00:26:49,909 as we've said you'll often hear the 641 00:26:53,669 --> 00:26:50,960 phrase 642 00:26:54,710 --> 00:26:53,679 that begs the question when people 643 00:26:57,350 --> 00:26:54,720 really mean 644 00:26:58,870 --> 00:26:57,360 that prompts the question so just 645 00:27:02,470 --> 00:26:58,880 remember that language 646 00:27:03,110 --> 00:27:02,480 is evolving all the time but if you hear 647 00:27:05,029 --> 00:27:03,120 someone 648 00:27:06,149 --> 00:27:05,039 really begging the question in an 649 00:27:08,149 --> 00:27:06,159 argument 650 00:27:09,909 --> 00:27:08,159 you might ask them to rephrase the 651 00:27:14,870 --> 00:27:09,919 question 652 00:27:21,940 --> 00:27:14,880 which is all too easy to do 653 00:27:33,350 --> 00:27:30,870 [Music] 654 00:27:35,190 --> 00:27:33,360 this week we'll look at the argument 655 00:27:37,669 --> 00:27:35,200 from ignorance 656 00:27:39,350 --> 00:27:37,679 also known as the appeal to ignorance 657 00:27:40,789 --> 00:27:39,360 this is when you assert something is 658 00:27:43,750 --> 00:27:40,799 true or could be true 659 00:27:44,789 --> 00:27:43,760 because no one has proved it to be false 660 00:27:47,110 --> 00:27:44,799 this fallacy 661 00:27:48,149 --> 00:27:47,120 wrongly shifts the burden of proof away 662 00:27:51,510 --> 00:27:48,159 from the person 663 00:27:54,870 --> 00:27:51,520 making the claim we all know what a ufo 664 00:27:58,230 --> 00:27:54,880 is don't we what do you think it is 665 00:28:00,630 --> 00:27:58,240 i'll give you a second now 666 00:28:03,350 --> 00:28:00,640 if you are thinking something like an 667 00:28:05,990 --> 00:28:03,360 alien spaceship that is visiting earth 668 00:28:08,470 --> 00:28:06,000 then it could be said you are making an 669 00:28:11,510 --> 00:28:08,480 argument from ignorance 670 00:28:14,950 --> 00:28:11,520 remember that the u in ufo 671 00:28:17,990 --> 00:28:14,960 stands for unidentified 672 00:28:18,950 --> 00:28:18,000 it could be any number of things from a 673 00:28:22,310 --> 00:28:18,960 bird 674 00:28:26,230 --> 00:28:22,320 to a plane to well 675 00:28:27,430 --> 00:28:26,240 you get the idea the fact that no one 676 00:28:30,470 --> 00:28:27,440 has proved something 677 00:28:33,510 --> 00:28:30,480 unidentified in the sky is not an 678 00:28:36,870 --> 00:28:33,520 alien spaceship does not therefore mean 679 00:28:38,789 --> 00:28:36,880 it is one the ancient egyptians had 680 00:28:39,510 --> 00:28:38,799 access to advanced technology and 681 00:28:42,230 --> 00:28:39,520 knowledge 682 00:28:44,630 --> 00:28:42,240 that has been lost for millennia how 683 00:28:47,510 --> 00:28:44,640 else could they have built the pyramids 684 00:28:49,269 --> 00:28:47,520 even today scientists are baffled by how 685 00:28:52,310 --> 00:28:49,279 it could be done 686 00:28:54,789 --> 00:28:52,320 were they helped by advanced aliens this 687 00:28:55,950 --> 00:28:54,799 surely is proof that the earth has been 688 00:28:58,950 --> 00:28:55,960 visited by 689 00:29:00,710 --> 00:28:58,960 extraterrestrials it's certainly true 690 00:29:02,870 --> 00:29:00,720 that there are many aspects of the 691 00:29:04,230 --> 00:29:02,880 construction of the pyramids we don't 692 00:29:06,870 --> 00:29:04,240 yet understand 693 00:29:07,830 --> 00:29:06,880 it does not therefore mean the ancient 694 00:29:11,029 --> 00:29:07,840 egyptians had 695 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:11,039 access to technology or science far more 696 00:29:16,070 --> 00:29:12,080 advanced than our 697 00:29:19,110 --> 00:29:16,080 own in fact with every passing year 698 00:29:21,830 --> 00:29:19,120 we understand more and more about 699 00:29:22,950 --> 00:29:21,840 how the pyramids were constructed and 700 00:29:26,149 --> 00:29:22,960 never 701 00:29:29,669 --> 00:29:26,159 not once have we discovered evidence of 702 00:29:32,549 --> 00:29:29,679 some amazing alien technology 703 00:29:35,590 --> 00:29:32,559 what we do find is how resourceful and 704 00:29:38,950 --> 00:29:35,600 inventive the ancient egyptians were 705 00:29:40,070 --> 00:29:38,960 remember they were humans just like you 706 00:29:42,070 --> 00:29:40,080 and me 707 00:29:43,590 --> 00:29:42,080 science does not know the limits of the 708 00:29:45,750 --> 00:29:43,600 human brain so 709 00:29:47,350 --> 00:29:45,760 it could be that there is a part of the 710 00:29:50,470 --> 00:29:47,360 brain that is able to send 711 00:29:52,549 --> 00:29:50,480 and receive psychic messages 712 00:29:53,990 --> 00:29:52,559 the first part of this statement is true 713 00:29:57,350 --> 00:29:54,000 enough as science is 714 00:30:00,149 --> 00:29:57,360 still learning about the human brain 715 00:30:00,710 --> 00:30:00,159 but that does not therefore mean psychic 716 00:30:04,149 --> 00:30:00,720 powers 717 00:30:07,029 --> 00:30:04,159 must or even might exist 718 00:30:09,269 --> 00:30:07,039 no one has proven that invisible 719 00:30:12,310 --> 00:30:09,279 unicorns from another dimension 720 00:30:15,990 --> 00:30:12,320 aren't running around the streets but 721 00:30:18,389 --> 00:30:16,000 that is no reason to think that they are 722 00:30:20,230 --> 00:30:18,399 i went to a reiki practitioner who 723 00:30:23,510 --> 00:30:20,240 cleansed and balanced my 724 00:30:25,510 --> 00:30:23,520 energies which cured my insomnia 725 00:30:26,950 --> 00:30:25,520 just because science hasn't detected 726 00:30:29,510 --> 00:30:26,960 healing energies yet 727 00:30:30,789 --> 00:30:29,520 it doesn't mean they don't exist science 728 00:30:33,830 --> 00:30:30,799 doesn't know everything 729 00:30:34,630 --> 00:30:33,840 there are other ways of knowing it's 730 00:30:37,590 --> 00:30:34,640 just so 731 00:30:38,710 --> 00:30:37,600 easy to accept something like reiki 732 00:30:42,310 --> 00:30:38,720 needless to say an 733 00:30:45,190 --> 00:30:42,320 unproven modality seems to work when you 734 00:30:48,149 --> 00:30:45,200 think it has worked for you 735 00:30:49,110 --> 00:30:48,159 it also makes sense to look for a reason 736 00:30:53,350 --> 00:30:49,120 as to why 737 00:30:56,710 --> 00:30:53,360 it seems to work that the reason given 738 00:30:59,190 --> 00:30:56,720 makes no real sense scientifically 739 00:31:00,789 --> 00:30:59,200 really doesn't matter when someone is 740 00:31:05,269 --> 00:31:00,799 convinced by perceived 741 00:31:07,830 --> 00:31:05,279 outcomes of the modality 742 00:31:09,509 --> 00:31:07,840 you'll often find that people think that 743 00:31:12,630 --> 00:31:09,519 just because something has 744 00:31:13,590 --> 00:31:12,640 not been shown to be false or not the 745 00:31:16,389 --> 00:31:13,600 case 746 00:31:18,789 --> 00:31:16,399 the opposite must be true or at least 747 00:31:21,909 --> 00:31:18,799 could be true 748 00:31:24,630 --> 00:31:21,919 as unsatisfying as it can be 749 00:31:25,909 --> 00:31:24,640 sometimes the best answer a skeptic can 750 00:31:37,300 --> 00:31:25,919 give is 751 00:31:42,950 --> 00:31:39,590 [Music] 752 00:31:45,509 --> 00:31:42,960 this week we'll look at special pleading 753 00:31:47,990 --> 00:31:45,519 this is when instead of admitting your 754 00:31:50,470 --> 00:31:48,000 point of view or argument is wrong 755 00:31:51,669 --> 00:31:50,480 you try to find a loophole that gives 756 00:31:54,230 --> 00:31:51,679 you an out 757 00:31:56,230 --> 00:31:54,240 and saves you from defeat it is also 758 00:31:57,590 --> 00:31:56,240 when a person makes an exception to a 759 00:31:59,990 --> 00:31:57,600 universal principle 760 00:32:01,909 --> 00:32:00,000 because they are holding on tight to a 761 00:32:03,269 --> 00:32:01,919 belief that doesn't align with that 762 00:32:05,750 --> 00:32:03,279 principle 763 00:32:08,230 --> 00:32:05,760 we see this situation so often in 764 00:32:10,470 --> 00:32:08,240 skeptical investigations 765 00:32:11,430 --> 00:32:10,480 from so-called psychics to water 766 00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:11,440 diviners 767 00:32:16,870 --> 00:32:13,760 to people who claim they have invented a 768 00:32:18,950 --> 00:32:16,880 perpetual motion machine 769 00:32:21,350 --> 00:32:18,960 when it comes to the crunch and they 770 00:32:24,149 --> 00:32:21,360 fail to demonstrate their claim 771 00:32:25,110 --> 00:32:24,159 they will always find a way to excuse 772 00:32:28,549 --> 00:32:25,120 the failure 773 00:32:31,669 --> 00:32:28,559 and preserve their worldview normally 774 00:32:34,789 --> 00:32:31,679 i'm 100 successful when i'm 775 00:32:37,669 --> 00:32:34,799 water divining i never miss but when i 776 00:32:39,110 --> 00:32:37,679 was tested by the skeptics my divining 777 00:32:42,070 --> 00:32:39,120 power didn't work 778 00:32:44,389 --> 00:32:42,080 however i know why those skeptics had me 779 00:32:47,509 --> 00:32:44,399 tested on the wrong type of water 780 00:32:50,230 --> 00:32:47,519 and that threw me off believe it or not 781 00:32:51,430 --> 00:32:50,240 this was the actual argument made by a 782 00:32:53,590 --> 00:32:51,440 water diviner 783 00:32:55,110 --> 00:32:53,600 after failing a test of his claimed 784 00:32:57,830 --> 00:32:55,120 ability 785 00:32:59,830 --> 00:32:57,840 of all the people tested by australian 786 00:33:02,230 --> 00:32:59,840 skeptics over the decades 787 00:33:02,950 --> 00:33:02,240 it's the water diviners who come up with 788 00:33:06,470 --> 00:33:02,960 the most 789 00:33:10,630 --> 00:33:06,480 creative examples of special pleading 790 00:33:11,669 --> 00:33:10,640 none of them not one of the hundreds who 791 00:33:14,870 --> 00:33:11,679 have tried 792 00:33:17,350 --> 00:33:14,880 have passed the agreed to tests i 793 00:33:19,029 --> 00:33:17,360 know i failed to find the treasure using 794 00:33:21,909 --> 00:33:19,039 my psychic powers 795 00:33:23,830 --> 00:33:21,919 but it wasn't my fault my spirit guide 796 00:33:24,630 --> 00:33:23,840 led me to the wrong place to teach me a 797 00:33:27,830 --> 00:33:24,640 lesson 798 00:33:30,470 --> 00:33:27,840 in humility once again we have an 799 00:33:32,789 --> 00:33:30,480 example based on a real excuse 800 00:33:34,630 --> 00:33:32,799 given by someone claiming to be a 801 00:33:37,990 --> 00:33:34,640 psychic 802 00:33:41,269 --> 00:33:38,000 a way 803 00:33:43,669 --> 00:33:41,279 to justify their failure they also 804 00:33:46,870 --> 00:33:43,679 found a way to reinforce their belief in 805 00:33:50,710 --> 00:33:46,880 the paranormal at the same time 806 00:33:52,710 --> 00:33:50,720 a for effort it's simply amazing how 807 00:33:54,710 --> 00:33:52,720 well acupuncture works 808 00:33:57,909 --> 00:33:54,720 it doesn't matter that science cannot 809 00:34:00,310 --> 00:33:57,919 identify the mechanism by which it works 810 00:34:02,870 --> 00:34:00,320 we don't need to wait for science to 811 00:34:05,269 --> 00:34:02,880 catch up to what we already know 812 00:34:07,750 --> 00:34:05,279 anyway science clearly isn't able to 813 00:34:10,069 --> 00:34:07,760 discover how acupuncture works 814 00:34:12,389 --> 00:34:10,079 this example of special plating has been 815 00:34:15,710 --> 00:34:12,399 used for many years by those promoting 816 00:34:18,629 --> 00:34:15,720 acupuncture so-called energy healing 817 00:34:20,710 --> 00:34:18,639 homeopathy and many other forms of 818 00:34:23,349 --> 00:34:20,720 alternative medicine 819 00:34:24,310 --> 00:34:23,359 when the scientific evidence is lacking 820 00:34:27,349 --> 00:34:24,320 they will blame 821 00:34:28,230 --> 00:34:27,359 science for not understanding or even 822 00:34:32,950 --> 00:34:28,240 for not being 823 00:34:37,030 --> 00:34:35,030 we humans are very good at doing 824 00:34:40,710 --> 00:34:37,040 everything we can to preserve our 825 00:34:43,030 --> 00:34:40,720 beliefs and our worldview 826 00:34:44,470 --> 00:34:43,040 it could be said to be a form of natural 827 00:34:47,510 --> 00:34:44,480 defense as the mind 828 00:34:49,510 --> 00:34:47,520 looks for ways to protect itself 829 00:34:50,790 --> 00:34:49,520 it is something you should take into 830 00:34:53,030 --> 00:34:50,800 consideration when 831 00:34:56,710 --> 00:34:53,040 arguing with someone who is truly 832 00:34:59,109 --> 00:34:56,720 convinced of their own point of view 833 00:35:09,910 --> 00:34:59,119 rarely will they just change their mind 834 00:35:14,069 --> 00:35:11,990 this week we'll look at the appeal to 835 00:35:16,950 --> 00:35:14,079 nature 836 00:35:18,870 --> 00:35:16,960 this is the false somewhat romantic idea 837 00:35:19,589 --> 00:35:18,880 that just because something comes from 838 00:35:21,829 --> 00:35:19,599 nature 839 00:35:22,630 --> 00:35:21,839 or from a natural source it must 840 00:35:25,990 --> 00:35:22,640 therefore be 841 00:35:29,349 --> 00:35:26,000 pure wholesome beneficial and healthy 842 00:35:29,990 --> 00:35:29,359 basically good for you this fallacy can 843 00:35:32,150 --> 00:35:30,000 often be 844 00:35:33,670 --> 00:35:32,160 seen in the marketing of food and 845 00:35:36,870 --> 00:35:33,680 certain so-called 846 00:35:38,950 --> 00:35:36,880 alternative medicines it plays on our 847 00:35:41,750 --> 00:35:38,960 notion of life in a simpler 848 00:35:43,349 --> 00:35:41,760 more innocent time that really never 849 00:35:46,230 --> 00:35:43,359 existed 850 00:35:48,790 --> 00:35:46,240 when people lived a more natural life 851 00:35:51,430 --> 00:35:48,800 their life expectancy was generally 852 00:35:53,270 --> 00:35:51,440 shorter and plagued with bad health 853 00:35:55,030 --> 00:35:53,280 along the way 854 00:35:57,030 --> 00:35:55,040 i'm going to stick to natural products 855 00:35:58,630 --> 00:35:57,040 only from now on and steer clear of 856 00:36:01,349 --> 00:35:58,640 chemicals 857 00:36:02,230 --> 00:36:01,359 somehow over the last few decades the 858 00:36:05,030 --> 00:36:02,240 idea that 859 00:36:05,750 --> 00:36:05,040 chemicals are artificial and therefore 860 00:36:09,109 --> 00:36:05,760 bad 861 00:36:11,030 --> 00:36:09,119 has become a widely held public opinion 862 00:36:12,150 --> 00:36:11,040 you have no doubt seen the words 863 00:36:14,630 --> 00:36:12,160 chemical free 864 00:36:16,390 --> 00:36:14,640 on everything from food supplements to 865 00:36:19,270 --> 00:36:16,400 shampoo 866 00:36:20,870 --> 00:36:19,280 since even water is a chemical its 867 00:36:24,150 --> 00:36:20,880 formula being the famous 868 00:36:27,750 --> 00:36:24,160 h2o it's a wonder that this falsehood 869 00:36:30,790 --> 00:36:27,760 ever caught hold chemicals 870 00:36:33,589 --> 00:36:30,800 be they natural or artificial are 871 00:36:36,150 --> 00:36:33,599 neither good nor bad in themselves 872 00:36:37,030 --> 00:36:36,160 it's how they are used and in what 873 00:36:39,510 --> 00:36:37,040 quantity 874 00:36:41,109 --> 00:36:39,520 or in what compound that determines 875 00:36:42,710 --> 00:36:41,119 their effect 876 00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:42,720 i'm not going to risk my children 877 00:36:47,109 --> 00:36:45,040 getting vaccinated it is important that 878 00:36:50,230 --> 00:36:47,119 they get a dose of the measles 879 00:36:52,230 --> 00:36:50,240 to build up their natural immunity one 880 00:36:54,710 --> 00:36:52,240 of the privileges many of us 881 00:36:56,470 --> 00:36:54,720 have is to live in a society with 882 00:36:59,230 --> 00:36:56,480 advanced medical care 883 00:37:01,510 --> 00:36:59,240 which led to vaccination and the near 884 00:37:04,550 --> 00:37:01,520 eradication of diseases like 885 00:37:08,150 --> 00:37:04,560 measles even if a child is 886 00:37:10,630 --> 00:37:08,160 unfortunate enough to contract measles 887 00:37:13,349 --> 00:37:10,640 our health system is ready if that child 888 00:37:15,670 --> 00:37:13,359 becomes seriously ill 889 00:37:16,390 --> 00:37:15,680 in some parts of the world where people 890 00:37:19,349 --> 00:37:16,400 are less 891 00:37:20,310 --> 00:37:19,359 fortunate each year thousands of 892 00:37:23,829 --> 00:37:20,320 children 893 00:37:27,349 --> 00:37:23,839 and even adults die from measles which 894 00:37:31,510 --> 00:37:27,359 after all is a natural disease 895 00:37:33,589 --> 00:37:31,520 even covert 19 is natural 896 00:37:35,270 --> 00:37:33,599 many women these days are opting for 897 00:37:37,510 --> 00:37:35,280 natural childbirth 898 00:37:39,750 --> 00:37:37,520 in the comfort of their own home with 899 00:37:41,670 --> 00:37:39,760 family and a midwife on hand 900 00:37:43,030 --> 00:37:41,680 this means that the child will start 901 00:37:46,150 --> 00:37:43,040 life in a peaceful 902 00:37:47,270 --> 00:37:46,160 and loving environment newborn babies 903 00:37:50,630 --> 00:37:47,280 are incapable of 904 00:37:54,150 --> 00:37:50,640 knowing or caring where they are born 905 00:37:57,670 --> 00:37:54,160 and will not remember the event 906 00:38:00,710 --> 00:37:57,680 while birth is indeed part of nature 907 00:38:01,109 --> 00:38:00,720 so is the alarmingly high death rate for 908 00:38:04,630 --> 00:38:01,119 both 909 00:38:05,109 --> 00:38:04,640 mother and baby where modern medical 910 00:38:07,990 --> 00:38:05,119 care 911 00:38:09,030 --> 00:38:08,000 is not available for most of our 912 00:38:12,069 --> 00:38:09,040 ancestors 913 00:38:14,870 --> 00:38:12,079 going back into the distant past a 914 00:38:16,790 --> 00:38:14,880 natural childbirth was a time of both 915 00:38:18,430 --> 00:38:16,800 great anticipation 916 00:38:22,390 --> 00:38:18,440 and great apprehension 917 00:38:25,589 --> 00:38:22,400 [Music] 918 00:38:26,550 --> 00:38:25,599 nature is neither our enemy nor our 919 00:38:29,349 --> 00:38:26,560 friend 920 00:38:31,109 --> 00:38:29,359 it is simply the ongoing process of the 921 00:38:33,349 --> 00:38:31,119 universe 922 00:38:34,230 --> 00:38:33,359 we can point to much in nature that is 923 00:38:37,990 --> 00:38:34,240 good for us 924 00:38:41,270 --> 00:38:38,000 like fresh air and necessary vitamins 925 00:38:41,750 --> 00:38:41,280 and much that is bad even fatal like 926 00:38:44,470 --> 00:38:41,760 many 927 00:38:45,109 --> 00:38:44,480 natural diseases or natural disasters 928 00:38:49,030 --> 00:38:45,119 such as 929 00:38:51,990 --> 00:38:49,040 earthquakes fires and floods 930 00:38:53,589 --> 00:38:52,000 just keep in mind that nature is a blind 931 00:38:56,790 --> 00:38:53,599 uncaring process 932 00:38:57,510 --> 00:38:56,800 and not some benevolent entity that has 933 00:38:59,870 --> 00:38:57,520 our best 934 00:39:07,430 --> 00:38:59,880 interests at heart 935 00:39:11,109 --> 00:39:09,190 this time we'll look at the false 936 00:39:14,310 --> 00:39:11,119 dilemma 937 00:39:17,430 --> 00:39:14,320 also known as the false dichotomy the 938 00:39:19,910 --> 00:39:17,440 either or and the false 939 00:39:21,030 --> 00:39:19,920 choice this is when an argument is 940 00:39:24,310 --> 00:39:21,040 framed as having 941 00:39:24,710 --> 00:39:24,320 only two options or conclusions when 942 00:39:28,470 --> 00:39:24,720 there 943 00:39:31,109 --> 00:39:28,480 are in fact other logical alternatives 944 00:39:33,190 --> 00:39:31,119 not all black and white situations are 945 00:39:35,510 --> 00:39:33,200 truly black and white 946 00:39:37,990 --> 00:39:35,520 sometimes there are many other 947 00:39:41,990 --> 00:39:38,000 alternatives or shades of grey 948 00:39:44,630 --> 00:39:42,000 between the two extremes being asked to 949 00:39:45,310 --> 00:39:44,640 choose between the extremes can lead you 950 00:39:49,750 --> 00:39:45,320 to an 951 00:39:52,470 --> 00:39:49,760 unsatisfactory and even false conclusion 952 00:39:53,990 --> 00:39:52,480 the tv news show did a sting on a 953 00:39:55,510 --> 00:39:54,000 so-called psychic and 954 00:39:58,470 --> 00:39:55,520 showed that she was nothing more than a 955 00:40:01,589 --> 00:39:58,480 con artist other psychics however 956 00:40:03,750 --> 00:40:01,599 can not be explained away so easily so 957 00:40:06,550 --> 00:40:03,760 they must be real 958 00:40:08,950 --> 00:40:06,560 after many decades of investigations by 959 00:40:10,390 --> 00:40:08,960 australian skeptics and people like 960 00:40:13,430 --> 00:40:10,400 james randy 961 00:40:15,430 --> 00:40:13,440 we know that many maybe the majority of 962 00:40:17,109 --> 00:40:15,440 people claiming to be psychic or 963 00:40:20,630 --> 00:40:17,119 mystical healers 964 00:40:20,950 --> 00:40:20,640 are not con artists per se nor do they 965 00:40:24,790 --> 00:40:20,960 have 966 00:40:28,069 --> 00:40:24,800 genuine psychic powers many are 967 00:40:30,309 --> 00:40:28,079 to one degree or another deluded and 968 00:40:31,589 --> 00:40:30,319 really do think they have the powers 969 00:40:34,870 --> 00:40:31,599 they claim 970 00:40:37,030 --> 00:40:34,880 they can be honest caring people 971 00:40:37,990 --> 00:40:37,040 who only want to share what they 972 00:40:40,950 --> 00:40:38,000 perceive is 973 00:40:42,630 --> 00:40:40,960 their gift there are also performers 974 00:40:45,270 --> 00:40:42,640 known as mentalists 975 00:40:46,309 --> 00:40:45,280 who also use hot and cold reading 976 00:40:48,390 --> 00:40:46,319 techniques 977 00:40:50,870 --> 00:40:48,400 and are good at reading people in a 978 00:40:53,670 --> 00:40:50,880 psychological way 979 00:40:55,750 --> 00:40:53,680 this is a legitimate skill set and is 980 00:40:58,630 --> 00:40:55,760 valid entertainment 981 00:40:59,510 --> 00:40:58,640 these other possibilities however are 982 00:41:02,750 --> 00:40:59,520 one step 983 00:41:04,150 --> 00:41:02,760 too far for most tv or other news 984 00:41:06,150 --> 00:41:04,160 investigations 985 00:41:09,670 --> 00:41:06,160 that need to give their audience a 986 00:41:12,550 --> 00:41:09,680 simple choice and report accordingly 987 00:41:14,230 --> 00:41:12,560 the psychic is either a con artist or 988 00:41:17,750 --> 00:41:14,240 the real deal 989 00:41:20,790 --> 00:41:17,760 never an entertainer such as a mentalist 990 00:41:23,829 --> 00:41:20,800 amateur psychologist or deluded 991 00:41:24,790 --> 00:41:23,839 but well-meaning person if you're not 992 00:41:28,069 --> 00:41:24,800 for me 993 00:41:30,230 --> 00:41:28,079 then you're against me this is a cry 994 00:41:33,349 --> 00:41:30,240 we've heard from politics to religion 995 00:41:35,910 --> 00:41:33,359 and in many other situations 996 00:41:38,790 --> 00:41:35,920 it's an underhanded way of polarizing 997 00:41:40,710 --> 00:41:38,800 people to gain their support 998 00:41:41,829 --> 00:41:40,720 you might agree with much of what 999 00:41:44,390 --> 00:41:41,839 someone says 1000 00:41:45,109 --> 00:41:44,400 but at the same time have concerns or 1001 00:41:48,550 --> 00:41:45,119 issues with 1002 00:41:51,190 --> 00:41:48,560 other things not agreeing with someone 1003 00:41:52,390 --> 00:41:51,200 does not therefore mean you are opposed 1004 00:41:54,630 --> 00:41:52,400 to them 1005 00:41:56,150 --> 00:41:54,640 i reject mainstream medicine because 1006 00:41:59,349 --> 00:41:56,160 lots of people die 1007 00:42:01,589 --> 00:41:59,359 due to medical accidents or misdiagnosis 1008 00:42:02,710 --> 00:42:01,599 and drug companies are just in it for 1009 00:42:05,230 --> 00:42:02,720 the money 1010 00:42:07,109 --> 00:42:05,240 it is true that medical accidents and 1011 00:42:09,670 --> 00:42:07,119 misdiagnosis occur 1012 00:42:12,230 --> 00:42:09,680 human error is a factor in everything 1013 00:42:14,870 --> 00:42:12,240 that involves our input 1014 00:42:15,349 --> 00:42:14,880 drug companies can indeed be profit 1015 00:42:18,630 --> 00:42:15,359 driven 1016 00:42:20,870 --> 00:42:18,640 too however to reject 1017 00:42:22,309 --> 00:42:20,880 all evidence-based medicine on these 1018 00:42:24,630 --> 00:42:22,319 grounds and concede 1019 00:42:26,390 --> 00:42:24,640 none of how often people are cured or 1020 00:42:28,829 --> 00:42:26,400 saved is coming to an 1021 00:42:30,950 --> 00:42:28,839 extreme conclusion based on a false 1022 00:42:33,430 --> 00:42:30,960 dichotomy 1023 00:42:33,990 --> 00:42:33,440 just because science-based medical 1024 00:42:37,030 --> 00:42:34,000 practice 1025 00:42:37,670 --> 00:42:37,040 isn't all good it doesn't mean that it 1026 00:42:40,710 --> 00:42:37,680 must be 1027 00:42:45,430 --> 00:42:40,720 all bad and we should seek alternative 1028 00:42:48,630 --> 00:42:45,440 medical treatments instead 1029 00:42:51,990 --> 00:42:48,640 it's so easy to be given a simple choice 1030 00:42:54,870 --> 00:42:52,000 not too much to consider and with one of 1031 00:42:58,230 --> 00:42:54,880 the choices made out to be the right one 1032 00:43:00,230 --> 00:42:58,240 or the only real one to choose 1033 00:43:02,470 --> 00:43:00,240 there are times when a choice like this 1034 00:43:06,390 --> 00:43:02,480 is obvious for example 1035 00:43:08,870 --> 00:43:06,400 is slavery good yes or no 1036 00:43:13,430 --> 00:43:08,880 but for many situations the false 1037 00:43:15,430 --> 00:43:13,440 dilemma can rob you of the real answer 1038 00:43:16,950 --> 00:43:15,440 next time we'll look at the opposite of 1039 00:43:28,150 --> 00:43:16,960 the false dilemma 1040 00:43:31,349 --> 00:43:29,990 this time we'll look at the middle 1041 00:43:34,069 --> 00:43:31,359 ground 1042 00:43:36,390 --> 00:43:34,079 also known as the false compromise and 1043 00:43:38,470 --> 00:43:36,400 the argument to moderation 1044 00:43:39,670 --> 00:43:38,480 this is when it's asserted that the 1045 00:43:42,550 --> 00:43:39,680 truth of the matter 1046 00:43:43,190 --> 00:43:42,560 lies between two extremes and casts 1047 00:43:45,910 --> 00:43:43,200 doubt 1048 00:43:47,190 --> 00:43:45,920 on a well-reasoned and evidence-based 1049 00:43:49,349 --> 00:43:47,200 conclusion 1050 00:43:51,589 --> 00:43:49,359 this fallacy can come across as being 1051 00:43:54,230 --> 00:43:51,599 very fair-minded or democratic 1052 00:43:55,910 --> 00:43:54,240 as it seems to appeal to an open-minded 1053 00:43:57,829 --> 00:43:55,920 approach 1054 00:43:59,349 --> 00:43:57,839 but there are some issues and topics 1055 00:44:02,069 --> 00:43:59,359 where enough evidence 1056 00:44:03,589 --> 00:44:02,079 has been gathered for us to be very sure 1057 00:44:06,309 --> 00:44:03,599 of the premise 1058 00:44:07,750 --> 00:44:06,319 some say climate change is real and the 1059 00:44:10,069 --> 00:44:07,760 earth is warming 1060 00:44:11,270 --> 00:44:10,079 but others say it's not happening or 1061 00:44:13,670 --> 00:44:11,280 even if it is 1062 00:44:14,630 --> 00:44:13,680 it's just part of a natural cycle of the 1063 00:44:17,109 --> 00:44:14,640 planet 1064 00:44:18,390 --> 00:44:17,119 until they all just make up their mind 1065 00:44:21,430 --> 00:44:18,400 i'm not going to commit 1066 00:44:22,550 --> 00:44:21,440 one way all the other it's good to weigh 1067 00:44:25,270 --> 00:44:22,560 up the arguments on 1068 00:44:26,790 --> 00:44:25,280 any issue and listen to a wide range of 1069 00:44:29,109 --> 00:44:26,800 opinions 1070 00:44:30,790 --> 00:44:29,119 but if you're waiting for everyone to 1071 00:44:33,750 --> 00:44:30,800 make up their minds 1072 00:44:35,190 --> 00:44:33,760 you'll be waiting forever while it could 1073 00:44:38,309 --> 00:44:35,200 be said that science 1074 00:44:39,109 --> 00:44:38,319 never ultimately makes up its mind it 1075 00:44:42,550 --> 00:44:39,119 does reach 1076 00:44:45,430 --> 00:44:42,560 firm if tentative conclusions 1077 00:44:47,829 --> 00:44:45,440 there is no longer any doubt that humans 1078 00:44:51,109 --> 00:44:47,839 contribute to global warming 1079 00:44:53,109 --> 00:44:51,119 however science continues to fine-tune 1080 00:44:54,950 --> 00:44:53,119 our knowledge and understanding of the 1081 00:44:57,750 --> 00:44:54,960 phenomenon 1082 00:44:58,630 --> 00:44:57,760 note too that the consensus on global 1083 00:45:01,190 --> 00:44:58,640 warming 1084 00:45:02,550 --> 00:45:01,200 isn't a middle ground negotiated between 1085 00:45:05,589 --> 00:45:02,560 scientists 1086 00:45:08,230 --> 00:45:05,599 but a consensus of what the data shows 1087 00:45:09,589 --> 00:45:08,240 and the evidence clearly rests on one 1088 00:45:12,230 --> 00:45:09,599 side 1089 00:45:14,470 --> 00:45:12,240 i know some scientists say the earth is 1090 00:45:15,510 --> 00:45:14,480 billions of years old and we evolved 1091 00:45:17,910 --> 00:45:15,520 from apes 1092 00:45:19,750 --> 00:45:17,920 but other scientists say there is proof 1093 00:45:22,230 --> 00:45:19,760 for biblical creation 1094 00:45:23,589 --> 00:45:22,240 with the earth being only six thousand 1095 00:45:25,510 --> 00:45:23,599 years old 1096 00:45:27,990 --> 00:45:25,520 don't you think it's best we teach 1097 00:45:30,710 --> 00:45:28,000 children both points of view and 1098 00:45:32,030 --> 00:45:30,720 let them decide here is a classic 1099 00:45:34,470 --> 00:45:32,040 argument from the young earth 1100 00:45:36,630 --> 00:45:34,480 creationists by saying there are 1101 00:45:38,950 --> 00:45:36,640 scientists on both sides of the 1102 00:45:40,470 --> 00:45:38,960 question implies that the established 1103 00:45:43,670 --> 00:45:40,480 history of the earth 1104 00:45:45,990 --> 00:45:43,680 and the fact of evolution are in doubt 1105 00:45:47,750 --> 00:45:46,000 both are simply not in doubt in the 1106 00:45:49,750 --> 00:45:47,760 scientific community 1107 00:45:51,910 --> 00:45:49,760 but there will always be those who use 1108 00:45:52,710 --> 00:45:51,920 the false balance to push their point of 1109 00:45:56,710 --> 00:45:52,720 view 1110 00:45:58,630 --> 00:45:56,720 in this case creationism 1111 00:45:59,990 --> 00:45:58,640 sometimes there is a concession to the 1112 00:46:02,550 --> 00:46:00,000 religious doctrine by 1113 00:46:04,630 --> 00:46:02,560 using a combination of creationism and 1114 00:46:05,430 --> 00:46:04,640 evolution to reach a hybrid middle 1115 00:46:07,670 --> 00:46:05,440 ground 1116 00:46:10,950 --> 00:46:07,680 and this is also fallacious as the 1117 00:46:13,349 --> 00:46:10,960 positions are diametrically opposed 1118 00:46:14,470 --> 00:46:13,359 also remember that no matter what the 1119 00:46:17,510 --> 00:46:14,480 topic 1120 00:46:18,470 --> 00:46:17,520 even if it's ridiculous you'll always 1121 00:46:20,710 --> 00:46:18,480 find someone 1122 00:46:22,069 --> 00:46:20,720 calling themselves an expert to defend 1123 00:46:24,309 --> 00:46:22,079 it 1124 00:46:25,349 --> 00:46:24,319 i was watching a debate on tv about 1125 00:46:27,030 --> 00:46:25,359 vaccination 1126 00:46:28,870 --> 00:46:27,040 they had a doctor talking about 1127 00:46:30,309 --> 00:46:28,880 preventing whooping cough and measles 1128 00:46:32,630 --> 00:46:30,319 with a vaccine 1129 00:46:33,750 --> 00:46:32,640 but for balance they also had a 1130 00:46:36,710 --> 00:46:33,760 naturopath to 1131 00:46:37,349 --> 00:46:36,720 give the other side of the story again 1132 00:46:40,470 --> 00:46:37,359 and again 1133 00:46:42,950 --> 00:46:40,480 tv shows especially breakfast tv that 1134 00:46:43,829 --> 00:46:42,960 has maybe a five or six minute slot to 1135 00:46:46,150 --> 00:46:43,839 fill 1136 00:46:47,589 --> 00:46:46,160 will cover an issue by getting into 1137 00:46:50,870 --> 00:46:47,599 people who represent 1138 00:46:52,710 --> 00:46:50,880 quote both sides of an issue and let 1139 00:46:55,349 --> 00:46:52,720 them fight it out 1140 00:46:57,349 --> 00:46:55,359 it makes for good tv but leaves the 1141 00:46:59,750 --> 00:46:57,359 viewers with a mistaken impression that 1142 00:47:03,030 --> 00:46:59,760 there are two equal sides to an issue 1143 00:47:06,390 --> 00:47:03,040 in this case vaccination 1144 00:47:08,950 --> 00:47:06,400 during the 2010s medical scientist dr 1145 00:47:11,270 --> 00:47:08,960 rachel dunlop of the australian skeptics 1146 00:47:12,230 --> 00:47:11,280 took a strong stand against this false 1147 00:47:14,950 --> 00:47:12,240 balance 1148 00:47:15,510 --> 00:47:14,960 and refused to be part of any tv or 1149 00:47:17,990 --> 00:47:15,520 radio 1150 00:47:20,069 --> 00:47:18,000 program that would have her appear next 1151 00:47:22,470 --> 00:47:20,079 to an anti-vaxxer 1152 00:47:26,950 --> 00:47:22,480 she did not want to give them undeserved 1153 00:47:30,950 --> 00:47:29,030 there are so many examples where a 1154 00:47:33,990 --> 00:47:30,960 middle ground simply does not 1155 00:47:37,270 --> 00:47:34,000 exist you cannot be half dead 1156 00:47:38,710 --> 00:47:37,280 or a little bit pregnant despite this 1157 00:47:41,589 --> 00:47:38,720 fallacy sounding so 1158 00:47:42,150 --> 00:47:41,599 reasonable as we've seen it is often 1159 00:47:44,470 --> 00:47:42,160 used by 1160 00:47:47,030 --> 00:47:44,480 others with a fringe opinion to try and 1161 00:47:56,140 --> 00:47:47,040 cast doubt on the stronger opinion 1162 00:48:00,390 --> 00:47:58,549 [Music] 1163 00:48:01,100 --> 00:48:00,400 this time we'll look at the slippery 1164 00:48:02,630 --> 00:48:01,110 slope 1165 00:48:05,510 --> 00:48:02,640 [Music] 1166 00:48:06,069 --> 00:48:05,520 also known as the thin edge of the wedge 1167 00:48:08,870 --> 00:48:06,079 or the 1168 00:48:09,750 --> 00:48:08,880 domino fallacy this is where it is 1169 00:48:12,390 --> 00:48:09,760 asserted 1170 00:48:13,829 --> 00:48:12,400 that a relatively small step or action 1171 00:48:16,150 --> 00:48:13,839 in a certain direction 1172 00:48:16,950 --> 00:48:16,160 will lead to a chain of events with a 1173 00:48:20,069 --> 00:48:16,960 larger 1174 00:48:22,069 --> 00:48:20,079 and negative result imagine you were 1175 00:48:25,510 --> 00:48:22,079 standing on top of a mountain 1176 00:48:28,069 --> 00:48:25,520 and the path down is covered with ice 1177 00:48:29,430 --> 00:48:28,079 take one small step on the path and 1178 00:48:32,470 --> 00:48:29,440 before you know it 1179 00:48:35,349 --> 00:48:32,480 you are sliding down unable to stop 1180 00:48:36,230 --> 00:48:35,359 and hit the bottom you end up with 1181 00:48:38,790 --> 00:48:36,240 unforeseen 1182 00:48:40,870 --> 00:48:38,800 injuries and maybe crash into something 1183 00:48:43,109 --> 00:48:40,880 else and cause damage 1184 00:48:44,390 --> 00:48:43,119 that's the basic idea with this logical 1185 00:48:47,190 --> 00:48:44,400 fallacy 1186 00:48:49,670 --> 00:48:47,200 a small action now will inevitably lead 1187 00:48:50,870 --> 00:48:49,680 to a chain of events with a bad result 1188 00:48:52,950 --> 00:48:50,880 at the end 1189 00:48:55,109 --> 00:48:52,960 if they regulate homeopathy the next 1190 00:48:56,309 --> 00:48:55,119 thing you know they'll be regulating and 1191 00:48:59,270 --> 00:48:56,319 eventually banning 1192 00:49:01,109 --> 00:48:59,280 all forms of alternative medicine we see 1193 00:49:03,270 --> 00:49:01,119 this slippery slope argument 1194 00:49:04,870 --> 00:49:03,280 being used by proponents of so-called 1195 00:49:06,790 --> 00:49:04,880 alternative medicine 1196 00:49:09,349 --> 00:49:06,800 to protect their modality from what 1197 00:49:11,829 --> 00:49:09,359 would be normal scrutiny 1198 00:49:13,510 --> 00:49:11,839 homeopathy like any other form of 1199 00:49:16,069 --> 00:49:13,520 alternative medicine 1200 00:49:17,750 --> 00:49:16,079 and even mainstream medicine should 1201 00:49:21,109 --> 00:49:17,760 indeed be regulated 1202 00:49:23,349 --> 00:49:21,119 as it makes very specific health claims 1203 00:49:26,549 --> 00:49:23,359 but that does not mean it will therefore 1204 00:49:28,549 --> 00:49:26,559 end up getting banned from use 1205 00:49:30,150 --> 00:49:28,559 in the case of homeopathy it would be 1206 00:49:33,109 --> 00:49:30,160 very hard to ban sugar 1207 00:49:35,030 --> 00:49:33,119 pills if we don't ban genetically 1208 00:49:38,309 --> 00:49:35,040 modified foods 1209 00:49:41,990 --> 00:49:38,319 we'll end up with franken food 1210 00:49:44,069 --> 00:49:42,000 franken food first appeared in 1992 1211 00:49:46,390 --> 00:49:44,079 in a letter to the new york times by 1212 00:49:47,190 --> 00:49:46,400 english professor paul lewis condemning 1213 00:49:50,470 --> 00:49:47,200 the genetic 1214 00:49:53,510 --> 00:49:50,480 engineering of crops it has continued to 1215 00:49:56,230 --> 00:49:53,520 be used as a scary term by anti-gmo 1216 00:49:57,670 --> 00:49:56,240 interest groups but has no basis in 1217 00:50:00,390 --> 00:49:57,680 reality 1218 00:50:02,470 --> 00:50:00,400 this fear of gmo foods arose in reaction 1219 00:50:05,109 --> 00:50:02,480 to the development of crops that are not 1220 00:50:06,870 --> 00:50:05,119 modified by being selectively cultivated 1221 00:50:09,670 --> 00:50:06,880 in a traditional way 1222 00:50:11,109 --> 00:50:09,680 but are instead modified in a lab 1223 00:50:14,150 --> 00:50:11,119 perhaps the most famous 1224 00:50:14,950 --> 00:50:14,160 example of this is when dna plant 1225 00:50:17,990 --> 00:50:14,960 technology of 1226 00:50:19,430 --> 00:50:18,000 oakland california which has since gone 1227 00:50:22,630 --> 00:50:19,440 out of business 1228 00:50:25,349 --> 00:50:22,640 spliced a fish gene into a tomato 1229 00:50:25,990 --> 00:50:25,359 the aim was to insert an antifreeze gene 1230 00:50:29,109 --> 00:50:26,000 that helps 1231 00:50:32,230 --> 00:50:29,119 flounder survive frigid waters into a 1232 00:50:35,030 --> 00:50:32,240 plant to help its resistance to cold 1233 00:50:35,829 --> 00:50:35,040 the fish gene tomato didn't grow fins 1234 00:50:38,710 --> 00:50:35,839 scales 1235 00:50:40,470 --> 00:50:38,720 or resemble a fish tomato hybrid monster 1236 00:50:43,670 --> 00:50:40,480 in any way 1237 00:50:44,069 --> 00:50:43,680 however the fear-inducing imagery lives 1238 00:50:49,270 --> 00:50:44,079 on 1239 00:50:50,870 --> 00:50:49,280 of a tomato that could have grown well 1240 00:50:53,030 --> 00:50:50,880 in cooler climates 1241 00:50:54,950 --> 00:50:53,040 had it ever been permitted to reach the 1242 00:50:57,430 --> 00:50:54,960 market 1243 00:50:59,670 --> 00:50:57,440 it's understandable to be a bit fearful 1244 00:51:01,990 --> 00:50:59,680 of the potential of new technology that 1245 00:51:04,870 --> 00:51:02,000 we don't understand well 1246 00:51:05,349 --> 00:51:04,880 but improving crops genetically does not 1247 00:51:07,109 --> 00:51:05,359 mean 1248 00:51:09,829 --> 00:51:07,119 that we are sliding towards the 1249 00:51:12,150 --> 00:51:09,839 development of franken foods 1250 00:51:14,710 --> 00:51:12,160 so they want to ban the teaching of 1251 00:51:17,190 --> 00:51:14,720 creation science in schools 1252 00:51:19,109 --> 00:51:17,200 what next soon they'll be trying to 1253 00:51:21,349 --> 00:51:19,119 close down our churches 1254 00:51:23,750 --> 00:51:21,359 we mention so-called creation science in 1255 00:51:25,750 --> 00:51:23,760 the middle ground fallacy 1256 00:51:27,750 --> 00:51:25,760 while there are very good reasons not to 1257 00:51:30,470 --> 00:51:27,760 teach this religion based mythology 1258 00:51:32,230 --> 00:51:30,480 posing as a science in the classroom it 1259 00:51:35,510 --> 00:51:32,240 does not therefore 1260 00:51:37,670 --> 00:51:35,520 mean people should or will be stopped 1261 00:51:41,670 --> 00:51:37,680 from practicing their own religion 1262 00:51:46,150 --> 00:51:43,430 yes there are slippery slopes in this 1263 00:51:47,190 --> 00:51:46,160 world but there are also ways and means 1264 00:51:50,069 --> 00:51:47,200 of avoiding them 1265 00:51:51,270 --> 00:51:50,079 or breaking the chain of events just 1266 00:51:53,349 --> 00:51:51,280 because something you do 1267 00:51:54,390 --> 00:51:53,359 might lead to a larger and negative 1268 00:51:57,430 --> 00:51:54,400 outcome 1269 00:52:00,150 --> 00:51:57,440 it doesn't mean it always will 1270 00:52:01,510 --> 00:52:00,160 small risks you take now can be a step 1271 00:52:05,030 --> 00:52:01,520 in the wrong 1272 00:52:07,800 --> 00:52:05,040 or in the right direction one thing does 1273 00:52:15,750 --> 00:52:07,810 not always lead to another 1274 00:52:17,990 --> 00:52:15,760 [Music] 1275 00:52:19,380 --> 00:52:18,000 this time we'll look at the false 1276 00:52:20,790 --> 00:52:19,390 equivalence fallacy 1277 00:52:22,790 --> 00:52:20,800 [Music] 1278 00:52:25,109 --> 00:52:22,800 this is when it's argued that two 1279 00:52:26,870 --> 00:52:25,119 different things or points of view 1280 00:52:28,710 --> 00:52:26,880 that may have only passing or 1281 00:52:31,990 --> 00:52:28,720 superficial similarities 1282 00:52:34,790 --> 00:52:32,000 are in fact logically equivalent we've 1283 00:52:36,790 --> 00:52:34,800 all heard the saying you are comparing 1284 00:52:40,309 --> 00:52:36,800 apples with oranges 1285 00:52:43,349 --> 00:52:40,319 yes they are both fruit both round 1286 00:52:44,710 --> 00:52:43,359 and both are good to eat but despite 1287 00:52:47,030 --> 00:52:44,720 these similarities 1288 00:52:49,349 --> 00:52:47,040 they are not the same thing and should 1289 00:52:51,589 --> 00:52:49,359 not be compared as such 1290 00:52:53,589 --> 00:52:51,599 medical intuitives those gifted people 1291 00:52:54,390 --> 00:52:53,599 who can sense what is going on in your 1292 00:52:56,710 --> 00:52:54,400 body 1293 00:52:59,430 --> 00:52:56,720 are very caring people who treat 1294 00:53:01,829 --> 00:52:59,440 thousands of patients each year 1295 00:53:04,630 --> 00:53:01,839 yes they can make mistakes from time to 1296 00:53:07,670 --> 00:53:04,640 time but so do mainstream doctors 1297 00:53:10,069 --> 00:53:07,680 so in fact they're much the same 1298 00:53:12,870 --> 00:53:10,079 yes both medical intuitives and 1299 00:53:16,069 --> 00:53:12,880 mainstream doctors are caring people 1300 00:53:19,109 --> 00:53:16,079 who do make mistakes from time to time 1301 00:53:19,910 --> 00:53:19,119 they also probably drive cars listen to 1302 00:53:23,109 --> 00:53:19,920 music 1303 00:53:25,510 --> 00:53:23,119 and brush their teeth however 1304 00:53:27,670 --> 00:53:25,520 all these things do not mean that they 1305 00:53:31,349 --> 00:53:27,680 are similar when it comes to health care 1306 00:53:33,430 --> 00:53:31,359 and advice while mainstream doctors are 1307 00:53:34,390 --> 00:53:33,440 trained in and follow the scientific 1308 00:53:37,030 --> 00:53:34,400 method 1309 00:53:37,990 --> 00:53:37,040 medical intuitives rarely have medical 1310 00:53:40,790 --> 00:53:38,000 training 1311 00:53:42,549 --> 00:53:40,800 and rely on the unproven and frankly 1312 00:53:45,510 --> 00:53:42,559 quite bizarre idea 1313 00:53:48,710 --> 00:53:45,520 that they can use something akin to esp 1314 00:53:50,950 --> 00:53:48,720 to diagnose illnesses 1315 00:53:53,750 --> 00:53:50,960 when it comes to vaccination we have 1316 00:53:56,230 --> 00:53:53,760 experts who say it's safe and effective 1317 00:53:57,670 --> 00:53:56,240 but then again other experts say it's 1318 00:54:00,790 --> 00:53:57,680 not worth the risk 1319 00:54:03,430 --> 00:54:00,800 and has links to autism the term 1320 00:54:04,950 --> 00:54:03,440 expert seems to be used quite a bit 1321 00:54:07,030 --> 00:54:04,960 these days 1322 00:54:08,069 --> 00:54:07,040 just because someone is known as an 1323 00:54:11,109 --> 00:54:08,079 expert or 1324 00:54:13,510 --> 00:54:11,119 even labels themselves as an expert 1325 00:54:16,710 --> 00:54:13,520 it doesn't necessarily mean they have 1326 00:54:19,270 --> 00:54:16,720 valid expert knowledge in a subject 1327 00:54:21,829 --> 00:54:19,280 we even have the situation where people 1328 00:54:23,030 --> 00:54:21,839 refer to themselves as having mastered a 1329 00:54:26,790 --> 00:54:23,040 modality 1330 00:54:27,670 --> 00:54:26,800 for example reiki masters even though 1331 00:54:30,790 --> 00:54:27,680 there is no 1332 00:54:32,549 --> 00:54:30,800 credible evidence that reiki based on 1333 00:54:35,589 --> 00:54:32,559 mystical energies 1334 00:54:37,589 --> 00:54:35,599 exists at all the stars and the planets 1335 00:54:40,549 --> 00:54:37,599 are wonderful and mysterious 1336 00:54:42,630 --> 00:54:40,559 astrologers and astronomers continue to 1337 00:54:44,150 --> 00:54:42,640 study the night sky to learn more about 1338 00:54:46,710 --> 00:54:44,160 our universe 1339 00:54:49,270 --> 00:54:46,720 the science of astrology evolved out of 1340 00:54:51,349 --> 00:54:49,280 the natural wonder and curiosity of our 1341 00:54:53,270 --> 00:54:51,359 ancestors when they looked up at the 1342 00:54:55,670 --> 00:54:53,280 night sky 1343 00:54:56,630 --> 00:54:55,680 it was not surprising they saw patterns 1344 00:54:59,910 --> 00:54:56,640 in the stars 1345 00:55:01,670 --> 00:54:59,920 and made up stories of gods animals and 1346 00:55:04,390 --> 00:55:01,680 great adventures 1347 00:55:07,349 --> 00:55:04,400 and did so all over the world for 1348 00:55:10,470 --> 00:55:07,359 thousands of years 1349 00:55:11,030 --> 00:55:10,480 in australia for example the aboriginal 1350 00:55:13,510 --> 00:55:11,040 people 1351 00:55:15,990 --> 00:55:13,520 use the appearance of stars at various 1352 00:55:19,430 --> 00:55:16,000 times of the year to help them to know 1353 00:55:22,069 --> 00:55:19,440 when to hunt for certain animals 1354 00:55:24,390 --> 00:55:22,079 however today's astrology charts and 1355 00:55:26,950 --> 00:55:24,400 predictions have very little to do with 1356 00:55:29,670 --> 00:55:26,960 the real scientific study of stars 1357 00:55:31,589 --> 00:55:29,680 planets and galaxies that your 1358 00:55:34,230 --> 00:55:31,599 personality or events 1359 00:55:35,190 --> 00:55:34,240 in your future can be read by looking at 1360 00:55:37,910 --> 00:55:35,200 the heavens 1361 00:55:40,150 --> 00:55:37,920 has long since been shown to be nothing 1362 00:55:41,910 --> 00:55:40,160 more than superstition and magical 1363 00:55:44,950 --> 00:55:41,920 thinking 1364 00:55:45,670 --> 00:55:44,960 in the most important ways you cannot 1365 00:55:48,220 --> 00:55:45,680 compare 1366 00:55:51,270 --> 00:55:48,230 astrology with astronomy 1367 00:55:53,829 --> 00:55:51,280 [Music] 1368 00:55:54,630 --> 00:55:53,839 like many other logical fallacies it's 1369 00:55:57,109 --> 00:55:54,640 not always 1370 00:56:00,309 --> 00:55:57,119 easy and obvious to tell when the false 1371 00:56:02,630 --> 00:56:00,319 equivalence fallacy is being used 1372 00:56:05,510 --> 00:56:02,640 sometimes it takes a little thought or 1373 00:56:07,829 --> 00:56:05,520 even research to know for sure 1374 00:56:08,950 --> 00:56:07,839 it's important not to be too critical 1375 00:56:18,200 --> 00:56:08,960 with yourself 1376 00:56:22,710 --> 00:56:20,309 [Music] 1377 00:56:24,309 --> 00:56:22,720 this time we'll look at moving the goal 1378 00:56:27,510 --> 00:56:24,319 posts 1379 00:56:28,230 --> 00:56:27,520 also known as raising the bar and the 1380 00:56:30,870 --> 00:56:28,240 shifting 1381 00:56:31,270 --> 00:56:30,880 sands this is when your opponent does 1382 00:56:33,589 --> 00:56:31,280 not 1383 00:56:34,309 --> 00:56:33,599 accept a successful answer to their 1384 00:56:37,030 --> 00:56:34,319 challenge 1385 00:56:38,710 --> 00:56:37,040 and insists on you answering more and 1386 00:56:41,750 --> 00:56:38,720 more questions 1387 00:56:42,390 --> 00:56:41,760 sometimes people simply cannot accept 1388 00:56:45,030 --> 00:56:42,400 the fact 1389 00:56:45,430 --> 00:56:45,040 that their challenge has been answered 1390 00:56:47,589 --> 00:56:45,440 thus 1391 00:56:49,109 --> 00:56:47,599 showing that their own point of view is 1392 00:56:52,309 --> 00:56:49,119 wrong 1393 00:56:53,589 --> 00:56:52,319 instead of acknowledging this and that 1394 00:56:56,390 --> 00:56:53,599 can be awkward for 1395 00:56:58,470 --> 00:56:56,400 any of us they'll add to their challenge 1396 00:57:01,829 --> 00:56:58,480 with new conditions that makes it 1397 00:57:03,710 --> 00:57:01,839 harder and harder to show them wrong 1398 00:57:06,069 --> 00:57:03,720 a creationist challenged a 1399 00:57:09,030 --> 00:57:06,079 paleontologist to show at least 1400 00:57:11,349 --> 00:57:09,040 one example of a transitional fossil 1401 00:57:14,470 --> 00:57:11,359 that links dinosaurs to birds 1402 00:57:17,349 --> 00:57:14,480 when the paleontologist did just that 1403 00:57:18,710 --> 00:57:17,359 the creationist complained that all this 1404 00:57:21,430 --> 00:57:18,720 new fossil did 1405 00:57:23,109 --> 00:57:21,440 was to create two new gaps on either 1406 00:57:25,670 --> 00:57:23,119 side of the fossil record 1407 00:57:27,430 --> 00:57:25,680 and wanted yet more examples to fill in 1408 00:57:29,750 --> 00:57:27,440 those gaps 1409 00:57:31,750 --> 00:57:29,760 since the creationists worldview and 1410 00:57:34,950 --> 00:57:31,760 religion are to them beyond 1411 00:57:36,950 --> 00:57:34,960 question it would be very hard 1412 00:57:39,190 --> 00:57:36,960 bordering on impossible for them to 1413 00:57:40,470 --> 00:57:39,200 accept evidence that contradicts this 1414 00:57:42,470 --> 00:57:40,480 view 1415 00:57:43,670 --> 00:57:42,480 they often resort to moving the 1416 00:57:46,549 --> 00:57:43,680 goalposts to 1417 00:57:48,230 --> 00:57:46,559 preserve their belief system in fact 1418 00:57:50,470 --> 00:57:48,240 science has discovered 1419 00:57:52,069 --> 00:57:50,480 thousands of examples of transitions in 1420 00:57:54,630 --> 00:57:52,079 the fossil record 1421 00:57:56,950 --> 00:57:54,640 showing clear evolutionary steps within 1422 00:57:58,230 --> 00:57:56,960 a species and from one species to 1423 00:58:00,309 --> 00:57:58,240 another 1424 00:58:01,670 --> 00:58:00,319 i think the moon landings were faked in 1425 00:58:03,670 --> 00:58:01,680 a movie studio 1426 00:58:07,190 --> 00:58:03,680 there was no way the usa had the 1427 00:58:09,630 --> 00:58:07,200 technology to reach the moon in 1969 1428 00:58:12,470 --> 00:58:09,640 i mean look at all the hundreds of 1429 00:58:15,990 --> 00:58:12,480 inconsistencies and impossible things 1430 00:58:18,309 --> 00:58:16,000 we are supposed to believe as each claim 1431 00:58:19,430 --> 00:58:18,319 made by those espousing a moon landing 1432 00:58:22,549 --> 00:58:19,440 conspiracy is 1433 00:58:25,510 --> 00:58:22,559 met and debunked for example the 1434 00:58:28,069 --> 00:58:25,520 multiple light sources on the moon or 1435 00:58:29,270 --> 00:58:28,079 the lack of stars in photos of the lunar 1436 00:58:32,069 --> 00:58:29,280 sky 1437 00:58:34,549 --> 00:58:32,079 they either reject the evidence outright 1438 00:58:37,670 --> 00:58:34,559 or may well accept the evidence 1439 00:58:41,589 --> 00:58:37,680 but then move on to yet another claim 1440 00:58:41,910 --> 00:58:41,599 and another and another there appears to 1441 00:58:44,630 --> 00:58:41,920 be 1442 00:58:45,829 --> 00:58:44,640 no degree of evidence that will finally 1443 00:58:48,710 --> 00:58:45,839 convince them 1444 00:58:51,109 --> 00:58:48,720 that the landings were real and humans 1445 00:58:53,750 --> 00:58:51,119 have been to the moon 1446 00:58:54,549 --> 00:58:53,760 a breatharian someone who claims they 1447 00:58:56,789 --> 00:58:54,559 can live on 1448 00:58:59,589 --> 00:58:56,799 little more than fresh air was 1449 00:59:01,910 --> 00:58:59,599 challenged to prove her amazing claim 1450 00:59:03,430 --> 00:59:01,920 she agreed to be watched day and night 1451 00:59:06,470 --> 00:59:03,440 in a city hotel room 1452 00:59:07,430 --> 00:59:06,480 but after only 48 hours she displayed 1453 00:59:10,789 --> 00:59:07,440 symptoms of 1454 00:59:11,829 --> 00:59:10,799 acute dehydration stress and high blood 1455 00:59:15,270 --> 00:59:11,839 pressure 1456 00:59:17,030 --> 00:59:15,280 she claimed it was due to polluted air 1457 00:59:18,390 --> 00:59:17,040 and was moved to another hotel in the 1458 00:59:22,710 --> 00:59:18,400 countryside 1459 00:59:26,470 --> 00:59:22,720 but didn't improve this really happened 1460 00:59:27,750 --> 00:59:26,480 in the year 2000 the 60 minutes tv show 1461 00:59:30,870 --> 00:59:27,760 in australia 1462 00:59:34,069 --> 00:59:30,880 arranged for breatharian jasmine 1463 00:59:37,270 --> 00:59:34,079 or ellen grieve to be tested 1464 00:59:38,710 --> 00:59:37,280 as per her claim she was happy with the 1465 00:59:40,990 --> 00:59:38,720 test conditions 1466 00:59:43,510 --> 00:59:41,000 but when it became apparent she was 1467 00:59:46,710 --> 00:59:43,520 deteriorating from lack of food 1468 00:59:49,990 --> 00:59:46,720 she changed the conditions of the test 1469 00:59:53,030 --> 00:59:50,000 in effect moving the goal posts 1470 00:59:54,789 --> 00:59:53,040 even though 60 minutes agreed her health 1471 00:59:57,900 --> 00:59:54,799 continued to decline 1472 00:59:59,430 --> 00:59:57,910 and the test was cancelled 1473 01:00:01,910 --> 00:59:59,440 [Music] 1474 01:00:02,950 --> 01:00:01,920 protecting our worldview or belief 1475 01:00:06,069 --> 01:00:02,960 system is a 1476 01:00:08,630 --> 01:00:06,079 very human thing to do and we all do it 1477 01:00:11,430 --> 01:00:08,640 to one degree or another 1478 01:00:12,309 --> 01:00:11,440 it can at times protect us from simply 1479 01:00:15,430 --> 01:00:12,319 believing in 1480 01:00:17,670 --> 01:00:15,440 whatever someone tells us and we should 1481 01:00:20,710 --> 01:00:17,680 not be afraid to ask for more 1482 01:00:23,190 --> 01:00:20,720 information and evidence you might call 1483 01:00:25,270 --> 01:00:23,200 it healthy skepticism 1484 01:00:27,990 --> 01:00:25,280 but there comes a point when moving the 1485 01:00:31,030 --> 01:00:28,000 goal posts is about rejecting evidence 1486 01:00:32,300 --> 01:00:31,040 that conflicts with what we want or need 1487 01:00:41,270 --> 01:00:32,310 to be true 1488 01:00:48,309 --> 01:00:45,349 this time we'll look at non-sequitur 1489 01:00:49,030 --> 01:00:48,319 the term non-sequitur comes to us from 1490 01:00:52,549 --> 01:00:49,040 latin 1491 01:00:54,950 --> 01:00:52,559 and translates as it does not follow 1492 01:00:55,670 --> 01:00:54,960 it is a statement or conclusion that 1493 01:00:57,990 --> 01:00:55,680 doesn't 1494 01:00:58,789 --> 01:00:58,000 logically follow from the previous 1495 01:01:01,190 --> 01:00:58,799 statement 1496 01:01:02,789 --> 01:01:01,200 or the main point of the argument we 1497 01:01:06,069 --> 01:01:02,799 might call this the 1498 01:01:08,789 --> 01:01:06,079 what's that got to do with a fallacy 1499 01:01:09,349 --> 01:01:08,799 many times people will not answer the 1500 01:01:13,270 --> 01:01:09,359 question 1501 01:01:14,390 --> 01:01:13,280 asked or tack on extra unnecessary 1502 01:01:17,750 --> 01:01:14,400 information 1503 01:01:20,549 --> 01:01:17,760 that detracts from the question at hand 1504 01:01:21,430 --> 01:01:20,559 that awful skeptic questioned my psychic 1505 01:01:24,710 --> 01:01:21,440 intuition and 1506 01:01:27,349 --> 01:01:24,720 mediumship but what would he know 1507 01:01:29,990 --> 01:01:27,359 and anyway i had a traumatic childhood 1508 01:01:32,069 --> 01:01:30,000 and have suffered all my life 1509 01:01:33,910 --> 01:01:32,079 this example is based on a real 1510 01:01:36,150 --> 01:01:33,920 complaint made by someone 1511 01:01:40,150 --> 01:01:36,160 claiming to have psychic powers when 1512 01:01:42,549 --> 01:01:40,160 questioned by a skeptical investigator 1513 01:01:44,390 --> 01:01:42,559 while we can sympathise with aspects of 1514 01:01:47,589 --> 01:01:44,400 the psychic's life 1515 01:01:51,109 --> 01:01:47,599 their troubles really have no bearing on 1516 01:01:53,750 --> 01:01:51,119 whether or not they have mystical powers 1517 01:01:56,150 --> 01:01:53,760 it can however have the effect of 1518 01:01:59,109 --> 01:01:56,160 deflecting the valid inquiries or 1519 01:02:01,910 --> 01:01:59,119 criticisms of the skeptic 1520 01:02:03,349 --> 01:02:01,920 it's all too easy to paint a skeptic as 1521 01:02:07,190 --> 01:02:03,359 being negative 1522 01:02:07,910 --> 01:02:07,200 or uncaring the history of mainstream 1523 01:02:10,950 --> 01:02:07,920 medicine 1524 01:02:11,990 --> 01:02:10,960 is littered with bad reactions and side 1525 01:02:14,789 --> 01:02:12,000 effects 1526 01:02:15,190 --> 01:02:14,799 that's why alternative medicine works so 1527 01:02:18,390 --> 01:02:15,200 much 1528 01:02:18,950 --> 01:02:18,400 better there's an old saying if a 1529 01:02:21,910 --> 01:02:18,960 medicine 1530 01:02:24,789 --> 01:02:21,920 doesn't have side effects it doesn't 1531 01:02:27,829 --> 01:02:24,799 have effects to begin with 1532 01:02:29,270 --> 01:02:27,839 however in the case of homeopathy for 1533 01:02:32,470 --> 01:02:29,280 example 1534 01:02:33,510 --> 01:02:32,480 it's clear why it claims to have no side 1535 01:02:35,670 --> 01:02:33,520 effects 1536 01:02:36,950 --> 01:02:35,680 as there is nothing in it to cause 1537 01:02:39,829 --> 01:02:36,960 effects in the first 1538 01:02:42,309 --> 01:02:39,839 place whether or not a particular 1539 01:02:43,750 --> 01:02:42,319 pharmaceutical drug has reactions or 1540 01:02:46,829 --> 01:02:43,760 side effects 1541 01:02:48,870 --> 01:02:46,839 has nothing to do with the efficacy of 1542 01:02:52,710 --> 01:02:48,880 something calling itself 1543 01:02:53,029 --> 01:02:52,720 alternative medicine it's unrelated and 1544 01:02:56,710 --> 01:02:53,039 it 1545 01:02:59,750 --> 01:02:56,720 just doesn't follow science tells us 1546 01:03:03,750 --> 01:02:59,760 that energy can neither be created 1547 01:03:07,109 --> 01:03:03,760 nor destroyed but it can be transformed 1548 01:03:10,870 --> 01:03:07,119 this surely shows that spiritual energy 1549 01:03:13,029 --> 01:03:10,880 is real and reiki healing is possible 1550 01:03:14,390 --> 01:03:13,039 in the skeptical world there is 1551 01:03:17,589 --> 01:03:14,400 something called 1552 01:03:20,630 --> 01:03:17,599 hyman's categorical imperative 1553 01:03:24,630 --> 01:03:20,640 named after skeptical investigator 1554 01:03:27,510 --> 01:03:24,640 professor ray hyman which says 1555 01:03:29,510 --> 01:03:27,520 do not try to explain something until 1556 01:03:30,950 --> 01:03:29,520 you are sure there is something to be 1557 01:03:34,309 --> 01:03:30,960 explained 1558 01:03:37,430 --> 01:03:34,319 in this case we have no reason to think 1559 01:03:39,589 --> 01:03:37,440 that spiritual energy or reiki the 1560 01:03:43,349 --> 01:03:39,599 claimed mystical energy 1561 01:03:44,230 --> 01:03:43,359 even exist despite many people believing 1562 01:03:46,470 --> 01:03:44,240 in them 1563 01:03:48,069 --> 01:03:46,480 talking about the nature of energy as 1564 01:03:51,670 --> 01:03:48,079 discovered and described by 1565 01:03:54,789 --> 01:03:51,680 science and then linking it to unproven 1566 01:03:55,750 --> 01:03:54,799 claims is like an old smoke and mirrors 1567 01:03:58,069 --> 01:03:55,760 trick 1568 01:04:01,270 --> 01:03:58,079 causing you to be distracted from the 1569 01:04:05,589 --> 01:04:03,990 it's easy to see how people might use a 1570 01:04:07,990 --> 01:04:05,599 non-sequitur 1571 01:04:10,150 --> 01:04:08,000 if they truly believe in something like 1572 01:04:13,430 --> 01:04:10,160 mystical energies 1573 01:04:17,029 --> 01:04:13,440 to them the link to real energy 1574 01:04:20,150 --> 01:04:17,039 is not a non-sequitur at all 1575 01:04:23,510 --> 01:04:20,160 and they cannot see why it would not 1576 01:04:25,990 --> 01:04:23,520 follow nor be related this 1577 01:04:26,950 --> 01:04:26,000 commonly occurs when this fallacy is 1578 01:04:29,430 --> 01:04:26,960 used 1579 01:04:40,789 --> 01:04:29,440 and you might have quite a task 1580 01:04:43,670 --> 01:04:40,799 explaining this to your opponent 1581 01:04:46,630 --> 01:04:43,680 this time we'll look at the argument 1582 01:04:49,670 --> 01:04:46,640 from personal incredulity 1583 01:04:53,510 --> 01:04:49,680 also known as the argument from personal 1584 01:04:54,069 --> 01:04:53,520 astonishment this is when someone cannot 1585 01:04:56,150 --> 01:04:54,079 accept 1586 01:04:57,750 --> 01:04:56,160 an argument because they don't believe 1587 01:04:59,910 --> 01:04:57,760 in it or they don't 1588 01:05:01,270 --> 01:04:59,920 understand the premise and the points 1589 01:05:03,750 --> 01:05:01,280 being made 1590 01:05:05,589 --> 01:05:03,760 that is to say they think it's false 1591 01:05:08,870 --> 01:05:05,599 because they cannot see 1592 01:05:10,230 --> 01:05:08,880 how it can be true if someone is 1593 01:05:13,750 --> 01:05:10,240 incredulous 1594 01:05:14,840 --> 01:05:13,760 it means they are unable or unwilling to 1595 01:05:16,390 --> 01:05:14,850 believe something 1596 01:05:19,430 --> 01:05:16,400 [Music] 1597 01:05:23,270 --> 01:05:19,440 this might happen to any of us but 1598 01:05:25,270 --> 01:05:23,280 as ever it pays to keep an open mind 1599 01:05:27,349 --> 01:05:25,280 there is no way the psychic could have 1600 01:05:30,630 --> 01:05:27,359 known the things she did about me 1601 01:05:33,589 --> 01:05:30,640 i didn't tell her anything yet she named 1602 01:05:35,190 --> 01:05:33,599 members of my family by using her gift 1603 01:05:38,230 --> 01:05:35,200 of clairvoyance 1604 01:05:39,190 --> 01:05:38,240 there's just no other explanation one of 1605 01:05:42,230 --> 01:05:39,200 the classic 1606 01:05:42,630 --> 01:05:42,240 red flags for skeptics is when someone 1607 01:05:46,390 --> 01:05:42,640 has 1608 01:05:50,150 --> 01:05:46,400 a so-called psychic reading and says 1609 01:05:53,430 --> 01:05:50,160 it was amazingly accurate they could not 1610 01:05:57,430 --> 01:05:53,440 have known these things about me 1611 01:06:01,109 --> 01:05:57,440 and never told anyone about them 1612 01:06:04,309 --> 01:06:01,119 or that psychic was spot on 1613 01:06:06,870 --> 01:06:04,319 and i'm a skeptic now of course 1614 01:06:07,910 --> 01:06:06,880 not many people make a study of cold 1615 01:06:10,950 --> 01:06:07,920 reading 1616 01:06:13,109 --> 01:06:10,960 which is the most often used method of 1617 01:06:15,109 --> 01:06:13,119 doing what appears to be a psychic 1618 01:06:17,349 --> 01:06:15,119 reading 1619 01:06:18,390 --> 01:06:17,359 as most sitters are ignorant of the 1620 01:06:21,510 --> 01:06:18,400 psychological 1621 01:06:24,630 --> 01:06:21,520 interplay at work they assume 1622 01:06:25,349 --> 01:06:24,640 quite naturally that the person they are 1623 01:06:28,870 --> 01:06:25,359 seeing 1624 01:06:31,589 --> 01:06:28,880 must really be psychic 1625 01:06:32,789 --> 01:06:31,599 think of it this way when you see a 1626 01:06:35,910 --> 01:06:32,799 great magician 1627 01:06:37,589 --> 01:06:35,920 amaze and stun an audience by doing the 1628 01:06:40,630 --> 01:06:37,599 impossible 1629 01:06:45,670 --> 01:06:40,640 you know deep down it is just a trick 1630 01:06:48,549 --> 01:06:45,680 and not real in this case however 1631 01:06:49,589 --> 01:06:48,559 not knowing how the trick works does not 1632 01:06:52,950 --> 01:06:49,599 lead you to think 1633 01:06:55,190 --> 01:06:52,960 magic is real as you know better 1634 01:06:56,150 --> 01:06:55,200 they say that vaccination is safe and 1635 01:06:58,630 --> 01:06:56,160 effective 1636 01:07:00,710 --> 01:06:58,640 but i cannot see how jabbing a poor 1637 01:07:05,029 --> 01:07:00,720 innocent baby with a needle full of 1638 01:07:07,069 --> 01:07:05,039 toxins can be good somewhere in there 1639 01:07:08,950 --> 01:07:07,079 amongst all the emotive language and 1640 01:07:13,270 --> 01:07:08,960 scaremongering 1641 01:07:16,069 --> 01:07:13,280 is an argument from personal incredulity 1642 01:07:16,549 --> 01:07:16,079 if something works it works regardless 1643 01:07:19,349 --> 01:07:16,559 of 1644 01:07:20,309 --> 01:07:19,359 whether we understand it or not and 1645 01:07:23,670 --> 01:07:20,319 regardless 1646 01:07:26,549 --> 01:07:23,680 of whether we are opposed to it or not 1647 01:07:28,390 --> 01:07:26,559 yes we do take a lot of things on trust 1648 01:07:31,670 --> 01:07:28,400 in our society 1649 01:07:34,390 --> 01:07:31,680 when it comes to vaccination we trust 1650 01:07:36,950 --> 01:07:34,400 that the doctors and medical scientists 1651 01:07:38,710 --> 01:07:36,960 know what they are doing and what they 1652 01:07:42,630 --> 01:07:38,720 offer does work 1653 01:07:46,630 --> 01:07:42,640 even if we don't understand it ourselves 1654 01:07:49,829 --> 01:07:46,640 however if we took the time and effort 1655 01:07:52,630 --> 01:07:49,839 we could come to understand it and 1656 01:07:54,710 --> 01:07:52,640 understanding the basic principles of 1657 01:07:58,069 --> 01:07:54,720 how vaccines work 1658 01:08:00,870 --> 01:07:58,079 is really not that difficult how 1659 01:08:01,430 --> 01:08:00,880 crazy it is to believe the world is some 1660 01:08:04,789 --> 01:08:01,440 sort of 1661 01:08:05,589 --> 01:08:04,799 spinning ball in space i can't feel it 1662 01:08:07,910 --> 01:08:05,599 spin 1663 01:08:09,430 --> 01:08:07,920 when i'm flying in a plane the horizon 1664 01:08:12,150 --> 01:08:09,440 still looks flat 1665 01:08:13,510 --> 01:08:12,160 how is that possible if the world was a 1666 01:08:15,589 --> 01:08:13,520 globe 1667 01:08:17,910 --> 01:08:15,599 here we have a case of someone not 1668 01:08:19,189 --> 01:08:17,920 willing or not wanting to believe a 1669 01:08:22,550 --> 01:08:19,199 premise 1670 01:08:25,269 --> 01:08:22,560 in this case the shape of the world 1671 01:08:26,390 --> 01:08:25,279 as it contradicts what they accept to be 1672 01:08:29,430 --> 01:08:26,400 true 1673 01:08:32,550 --> 01:08:29,440 based on their own observations 1674 01:08:35,910 --> 01:08:32,560 in the case of many flat earthers 1675 01:08:38,390 --> 01:08:35,920 also known as globe deniers it's 1676 01:08:39,910 --> 01:08:38,400 also based on the information they get 1677 01:08:43,749 --> 01:08:39,920 from online blogs 1678 01:08:50,550 --> 01:08:43,759 and videos by other flat earthers 1679 01:08:54,870 --> 01:08:53,189 being incredulous might serve you well 1680 01:08:57,510 --> 01:08:54,880 when you first encounter 1681 01:08:58,149 --> 01:08:57,520 an extraordinary claim that flies in the 1682 01:09:02,149 --> 01:08:58,159 face of 1683 01:09:02,870 --> 01:09:02,159 everything you know but as carl sagan 1684 01:09:06,309 --> 01:09:02,880 famously 1685 01:09:09,510 --> 01:09:06,319 said extraordinary claims 1686 01:09:12,630 --> 01:09:09,520 require extraordinary proof 1687 01:09:16,429 --> 01:09:12,640 so don't be afraid to at least 1688 01:09:18,829 --> 01:09:16,439 look at any extraordinary proof that is 1689 01:09:26,870 --> 01:09:18,839 [Music] 1690 01:09:29,430 --> 01:09:26,880 this time we'll look at the relative 1691 01:09:33,669 --> 01:09:29,440 privation fallacy 1692 01:09:36,709 --> 01:09:33,679 this fallacy also known as not as bad as 1693 01:09:39,110 --> 01:09:36,719 can be seen as a type of red herring 1694 01:09:40,709 --> 01:09:39,120 or distraction the fallacy is 1695 01:09:43,430 --> 01:09:40,719 essentially an argument 1696 01:09:46,070 --> 01:09:43,440 that a certain issue is not important or 1697 01:09:48,550 --> 01:09:46,080 does not deserve attention and resources 1698 01:09:50,229 --> 01:09:48,560 because there are other and more 1699 01:09:52,550 --> 01:09:50,239 important issues 1700 01:09:54,229 --> 01:09:52,560 another variation of the relative 1701 01:09:57,270 --> 01:09:54,239 privation fallacy 1702 01:09:59,750 --> 01:09:57,280 is to compare something with the best or 1703 01:10:02,630 --> 01:09:59,760 the worst case scenario 1704 01:10:04,709 --> 01:10:02,640 thus making it seem much better or worse 1705 01:10:07,270 --> 01:10:04,719 by comparison 1706 01:10:09,350 --> 01:10:07,280 as a naturopath i can tell you that 1707 01:10:11,990 --> 01:10:09,360 mistakes are sometimes made by 1708 01:10:13,830 --> 01:10:12,000 practitioners of alternative medicine 1709 01:10:15,669 --> 01:10:13,840 but that is nothing compared to the 1710 01:10:19,510 --> 01:10:15,679 thousands of mistakes and deaths 1711 01:10:21,750 --> 01:10:19,520 each year due to mainstream medicine 1712 01:10:23,430 --> 01:10:21,760 that people die under the care of 1713 01:10:27,510 --> 01:10:23,440 mainstream medicine 1714 01:10:30,390 --> 01:10:27,520 is not in doubt but keep in mind 1715 01:10:33,030 --> 01:10:30,400 that what mainstream medicine does is to 1716 01:10:36,390 --> 01:10:33,040 look after millions of people 1717 01:10:39,750 --> 01:10:36,400 who range from being mildly unwell 1718 01:10:41,910 --> 01:10:39,760 to very unwell to being critically 1719 01:10:45,430 --> 01:10:41,920 unwell 1720 01:10:49,030 --> 01:10:45,440 yes it's not a perfect system 1721 01:10:50,149 --> 01:10:49,040 but that does not justify nor diminish 1722 01:10:53,910 --> 01:10:50,159 the mistakes 1723 01:10:55,750 --> 01:10:53,920 made by so-called alternative medicine 1724 01:10:57,030 --> 01:10:55,760 why should we bother doing something in 1725 01:10:59,510 --> 01:10:57,040 australia for 1726 01:11:00,390 --> 01:10:59,520 climate change and the environment when 1727 01:11:02,229 --> 01:11:00,400 china and 1728 01:11:03,590 --> 01:11:02,239 other countries are much bigger 1729 01:11:05,750 --> 01:11:03,600 polluters 1730 01:11:07,990 --> 01:11:05,760 it may well be that other countries 1731 01:11:09,590 --> 01:11:08,000 contribute a much greater volume of 1732 01:11:12,709 --> 01:11:09,600 greenhouse gases or 1733 01:11:16,870 --> 01:11:12,719 other pollutants in australia but 1734 01:11:18,790 --> 01:11:16,880 that is no reason at all for australia 1735 01:11:20,709 --> 01:11:18,800 especially as one of the highest 1736 01:11:23,750 --> 01:11:20,719 polluters per capita 1737 01:11:26,390 --> 01:11:23,760 if not as a total amount or 1738 01:11:27,669 --> 01:11:26,400 any other country to give up doing 1739 01:11:31,750 --> 01:11:27,679 everything we can 1740 01:11:35,350 --> 01:11:31,760 to combat this worldwide problem 1741 01:11:38,229 --> 01:11:35,360 if every country gave up using the above 1742 01:11:40,310 --> 01:11:38,239 argument as a justification the 1743 01:11:44,070 --> 01:11:40,320 situation would be much 1744 01:11:44,709 --> 01:11:44,080 much worse you skeptics have been trying 1745 01:11:47,510 --> 01:11:44,719 to debunk 1746 01:11:48,550 --> 01:11:47,520 silly things like ufos and psychics for 1747 01:11:50,790 --> 01:11:48,560 years 1748 01:11:51,990 --> 01:11:50,800 and people still believe in them you 1749 01:11:54,390 --> 01:11:52,000 should give up 1750 01:11:55,910 --> 01:11:54,400 and put your time and efforts into being 1751 01:11:58,870 --> 01:11:55,920 skeptical of far more 1752 01:12:02,149 --> 01:11:58,880 important issues this is an argument 1753 01:12:03,910 --> 01:12:02,159 skeptical groups hear from time to time 1754 01:12:05,830 --> 01:12:03,920 that some people don't find 1755 01:12:09,030 --> 01:12:05,840 investigating ufos 1756 01:12:10,310 --> 01:12:09,040 or homeopathy or psychics of interest is 1757 01:12:13,030 --> 01:12:10,320 fine 1758 01:12:16,070 --> 01:12:13,040 but that doesn't mean skeptical groups 1759 01:12:18,550 --> 01:12:16,080 should suddenly change their focus 1760 01:12:19,350 --> 01:12:18,560 we wouldn't expect the local chess club 1761 01:12:21,669 --> 01:12:19,360 to give up 1762 01:12:24,630 --> 01:12:21,679 chess just because someone thinks 1763 01:12:27,990 --> 01:12:24,640 backgammon is a better game 1764 01:12:30,630 --> 01:12:28,000 the implication is that you cannot be 1765 01:12:31,189 --> 01:12:30,640 real skeptics as you are not skeptical 1766 01:12:34,229 --> 01:12:31,199 of what 1767 01:12:35,189 --> 01:12:34,239 i am skeptical of and what i am 1768 01:12:37,910 --> 01:12:35,199 skeptical of 1769 01:12:39,790 --> 01:12:37,920 is more important than what you are 1770 01:12:43,669 --> 01:12:39,800 skeptical of 1771 01:12:46,310 --> 01:12:43,679 [Music] 1772 01:12:47,030 --> 01:12:46,320 the relative privation fallacy can 1773 01:12:49,830 --> 01:12:47,040 easily 1774 01:12:52,630 --> 01:12:49,840 take you away from the argument in hand 1775 01:12:57,030 --> 01:12:52,640 and have you wasting your time down some 1776 01:13:09,910 --> 01:12:57,040 rabbit hole try to keep your opponent 1777 01:13:16,790 --> 01:13:13,510 this time we'll look at tu quo quoi 1778 01:13:20,229 --> 01:13:16,800 also known as the appeal to hypocrisy 1779 01:13:20,709 --> 01:13:20,239 or the look who's talking this is a type 1780 01:13:23,750 --> 01:13:20,719 of 1781 01:13:26,950 --> 01:13:23,760 ad hominem attack and comes into play 1782 01:13:27,910 --> 01:13:26,960 when an inconsistency or hypocrisy from 1783 01:13:31,510 --> 01:13:27,920 your side 1784 01:13:34,550 --> 01:13:31,520 is used by your opponent to justify 1785 01:13:35,669 --> 01:13:34,560 their position or to denigrate your 1786 01:13:38,950 --> 01:13:35,679 position 1787 01:13:42,310 --> 01:13:38,960 this fallacy really is a lazy and cheap 1788 01:13:44,470 --> 01:13:42,320 way of trying to justify a position 1789 01:13:46,310 --> 01:13:44,480 it can be used to avoid the real 1790 01:13:50,070 --> 01:13:46,320 argument at hand 1791 01:13:53,830 --> 01:13:50,080 deflecting attention to the past actions 1792 01:13:56,870 --> 01:13:53,840 it's meeting criticism with criticism 1793 01:13:58,950 --> 01:13:56,880 so what if sometimes creation 1794 01:14:00,149 --> 01:13:58,960 scientists have been called out using 1795 01:14:03,990 --> 01:14:00,159 bad data or 1796 01:14:04,910 --> 01:14:04,000 fudging research just look at mainstream 1797 01:14:08,470 --> 01:14:04,920 science 1798 01:14:11,669 --> 01:14:08,480 skullduggery goes on all the time 1799 01:14:15,189 --> 01:14:11,679 no doubt about it some scientists have 1800 01:14:18,950 --> 01:14:15,199 and still do fudge figures cut corners 1801 01:14:21,510 --> 01:14:18,960 and even produce faulty research 1802 01:14:22,630 --> 01:14:21,520 not good but it does not therefore 1803 01:14:25,750 --> 01:14:22,640 justify 1804 01:14:28,470 --> 01:14:25,760 or somehow make better the bad science 1805 01:14:31,910 --> 01:14:28,480 conducted by creationists or from 1806 01:14:32,790 --> 01:14:31,920 any other field of pseudoscience here in 1807 01:14:35,910 --> 01:14:32,800 australia the 1808 01:14:38,870 --> 01:14:35,920 csiro the commonwealth scientific 1809 01:14:41,189 --> 01:14:38,880 and industrial research organization 1810 01:14:43,750 --> 01:14:41,199 once told us we shouldn't eat eggs due 1811 01:14:47,110 --> 01:14:43,760 to their high cholesterol content 1812 01:14:50,470 --> 01:14:47,120 now they tell us eggs are fine to eat 1813 01:14:53,189 --> 01:14:50,480 how can we trust them with any science 1814 01:14:55,430 --> 01:14:53,199 that science can and does change its 1815 01:14:57,030 --> 01:14:55,440 mind about things is really one of its 1816 01:14:58,550 --> 01:14:57,040 great strengths 1817 01:15:00,630 --> 01:14:58,560 imagine if it was more like 1818 01:15:02,870 --> 01:15:00,640 pseudoscience or religion 1819 01:15:04,070 --> 01:15:02,880 that when in the face of new and better 1820 01:15:06,630 --> 01:15:04,080 information 1821 01:15:07,990 --> 01:15:06,640 it stubbornly refused to accept it was 1822 01:15:10,630 --> 01:15:08,000 wrong 1823 01:15:12,950 --> 01:15:10,640 if that were the case we'd all be back 1824 01:15:15,590 --> 01:15:12,960 in the 14th century 1825 01:15:16,550 --> 01:15:15,600 why should we listen to the skeptics 1826 01:15:20,870 --> 01:15:16,560 weren't they the 1827 01:15:23,669 --> 01:15:20,880 fools who said climate change was a hoax 1828 01:15:24,310 --> 01:15:23,679 the skeptical movement and those in it 1829 01:15:27,350 --> 01:15:24,320 can 1830 01:15:29,910 --> 01:15:27,360 and do change their mind while in the 1831 01:15:32,550 --> 01:15:29,920 early days of the climate change issue 1832 01:15:33,350 --> 01:15:32,560 some skeptics were indeed skeptical of 1833 01:15:36,390 --> 01:15:33,360 it 1834 01:15:36,870 --> 01:15:36,400 these opinions were over time changed as 1835 01:15:40,149 --> 01:15:36,880 more 1836 01:15:42,950 --> 01:15:40,159 evidence was presented these days 1837 01:15:44,470 --> 01:15:42,960 climate change deniers often and 1838 01:15:47,030 --> 01:15:44,480 incorrectly 1839 01:15:51,590 --> 01:15:47,040 use the term skeptic to refer to 1840 01:15:55,510 --> 01:15:54,070 all of us are fallible and there will be 1841 01:15:59,510 --> 01:15:55,520 times when we don't act 1842 01:16:01,590 --> 01:15:59,520 consistently or even rationally 1843 01:16:02,870 --> 01:16:01,600 whether or not someone follows their own 1844 01:16:05,830 --> 01:16:02,880 advice or 1845 01:16:07,110 --> 01:16:05,840 even appears to contradict themselves it 1846 01:16:09,030 --> 01:16:07,120 should be noted 1847 01:16:10,870 --> 01:16:09,040 but don't let that distract from the 1848 01:16:14,149 --> 01:16:10,880 question in hand 1849 01:16:22,300 --> 01:16:14,159 and ultimately it does not justify 1850 01:16:28,070 --> 01:16:23,990 [Music] 1851 01:16:30,470 --> 01:16:28,080 this time we'll look at no true scotsman 1852 01:16:31,830 --> 01:16:30,480 this interesting sounding fallacy comes 1853 01:16:34,870 --> 01:16:31,840 to us from the notion 1854 01:16:37,030 --> 01:16:34,880 that all scotsmen are brave and if one 1855 01:16:40,149 --> 01:16:37,040 turns out to be a coward 1856 01:16:43,110 --> 01:16:40,159 then he cannot really be a true 1857 01:16:44,229 --> 01:16:43,120 scotsman this fallacy can be used by 1858 01:16:46,790 --> 01:16:44,239 your opponent to 1859 01:16:49,510 --> 01:16:46,800 change the parameters of an argument to 1860 01:16:51,830 --> 01:16:49,520 seem to save them from being wrong 1861 01:16:52,550 --> 01:16:51,840 it's a type of moving the goal post 1862 01:16:55,750 --> 01:16:52,560 fallacy 1863 01:16:58,310 --> 01:16:55,760 which we covered in an earlier episode 1864 01:16:58,950 --> 01:16:58,320 an online video showing some of the 1865 01:17:01,830 --> 01:16:58,960 tricks 1866 01:17:04,070 --> 01:17:01,840 behind applied kinesiology had a skeptic 1867 01:17:06,550 --> 01:17:04,080 pushing down on someone's arm 1868 01:17:07,669 --> 01:17:06,560 at different angles to get different 1869 01:17:10,870 --> 01:17:07,679 results 1870 01:17:14,310 --> 01:17:10,880 however according to kinesiologists 1871 01:17:17,990 --> 01:17:14,320 this is not how real applied kinesiology 1872 01:17:19,669 --> 01:17:18,000 is done at all applied kinesiology is a 1873 01:17:21,830 --> 01:17:19,679 modality that claims that 1874 01:17:23,830 --> 01:17:21,840 ailments in the body can be diagnosed 1875 01:17:27,189 --> 01:17:23,840 via muscle testing 1876 01:17:29,830 --> 01:17:27,199 it is considered to be a pseudoscience 1877 01:17:31,110 --> 01:17:29,840 the video referred to as real made by 1878 01:17:33,590 --> 01:17:31,120 richard saunders 1879 01:17:36,310 --> 01:17:33,600 and many of the unhappy comments on this 1880 01:17:39,750 --> 01:17:36,320 video from applied kinesiologists 1881 01:17:42,189 --> 01:17:39,760 use the no true scotsman fallacy 1882 01:17:43,590 --> 01:17:42,199 see for yourself by looking up applied 1883 01:17:46,870 --> 01:17:43,600 kinesiology 1884 01:17:48,950 --> 01:17:46,880 how it's done on youtube 1885 01:17:51,510 --> 01:17:48,960 then watch the countless other videos 1886 01:17:53,430 --> 01:17:51,520 from applied kinesiologists themselves 1887 01:17:55,110 --> 01:17:53,440 doing more or less the same sort of 1888 01:17:58,470 --> 01:17:55,120 thing 1889 01:17:58,950 --> 01:17:58,480 therefore protesting that one example is 1890 01:18:02,070 --> 01:17:58,960 not 1891 01:18:03,669 --> 01:18:02,080 real kinesiology doesn't get the 1892 01:18:06,950 --> 01:18:03,679 modality off the hook 1893 01:18:09,430 --> 01:18:06,960 when it really is all a variation of the 1894 01:18:12,790 --> 01:18:09,440 same basic practice 1895 01:18:14,630 --> 01:18:12,800 so the skeptics tested all these water 1896 01:18:18,470 --> 01:18:14,640 diviners huh 1897 01:18:19,590 --> 01:18:18,480 and they all failed well either the test 1898 01:18:22,229 --> 01:18:19,600 was wrong 1899 01:18:23,430 --> 01:18:22,239 all those diviners were just doing it 1900 01:18:26,630 --> 01:18:23,440 wrong or 1901 01:18:28,870 --> 01:18:26,640 they weren't real diviners at all once 1902 01:18:30,149 --> 01:18:28,880 again we have an example based on a real 1903 01:18:32,470 --> 01:18:30,159 event 1904 01:18:34,870 --> 01:18:32,480 when water divine has failed tests 1905 01:18:35,430 --> 01:18:34,880 conducted by the australian skeptics or 1906 01:18:38,149 --> 01:18:35,440 similar 1907 01:18:38,790 --> 01:18:38,159 organizations around the world and by 1908 01:18:41,110 --> 01:18:38,800 the way 1909 01:18:42,470 --> 01:18:41,120 that is a hundred percent of the time so 1910 01:18:44,950 --> 01:18:42,480 far 1911 01:18:46,070 --> 01:18:44,960 other definers or believers in divining 1912 01:18:48,550 --> 01:18:46,080 will sometimes 1913 01:18:50,470 --> 01:18:48,560 claim that the participants simply did 1914 01:18:53,430 --> 01:18:50,480 not know what they were doing 1915 01:18:55,430 --> 01:18:53,440 as any real diviner would have passed 1916 01:18:58,229 --> 01:18:55,440 the tests 1917 01:18:59,270 --> 01:18:58,239 i'm sorry but if you believe in a god or 1918 01:19:02,630 --> 01:18:59,280 gods 1919 01:19:04,550 --> 01:19:02,640 then you are not a real skeptic 1920 01:19:06,390 --> 01:19:04,560 some people can get quite worked up if 1921 01:19:08,709 --> 01:19:06,400 they find others in the skeptical 1922 01:19:10,390 --> 01:19:08,719 movement also happen to have a religious 1923 01:19:12,950 --> 01:19:10,400 faith 1924 01:19:14,870 --> 01:19:12,960 but for many skeptical groups one's 1925 01:19:18,149 --> 01:19:14,880 religion or lack thereof 1926 01:19:21,189 --> 01:19:18,159 is simply not of great importance 1927 01:19:21,990 --> 01:19:21,199 they can still be skeptics while many 1928 01:19:24,630 --> 01:19:22,000 skeptics are 1929 01:19:30,229 --> 01:19:24,640 atheists the two movements are not 1930 01:19:33,350 --> 01:19:32,470 sometimes it's easier to dismiss 1931 01:19:35,430 --> 01:19:33,360 something or 1932 01:19:36,550 --> 01:19:35,440 someone who does not live up to our 1933 01:19:39,830 --> 01:19:36,560 ideals 1934 01:19:43,590 --> 01:19:39,840 as not being really part of what makes 1935 01:19:46,790 --> 01:19:43,600 those ideals important to us 1936 01:19:47,830 --> 01:19:46,800 as with many logical fallacies this one 1937 01:19:50,870 --> 01:19:47,840 revolves around 1938 01:19:53,480 --> 01:19:50,880 us keeping our particular worldview safe 1939 01:19:56,310 --> 01:19:53,490 from contradictory information 1940 01:19:58,390 --> 01:19:56,320 [Music] 1941 01:19:59,350 --> 01:19:58,400 knowing a logical fallacy when you hear 1942 01:20:02,149 --> 01:19:59,360 one and 1943 01:20:04,630 --> 01:20:02,159 even knowing its name is important when 1944 01:20:08,070 --> 01:20:04,640 arguing your point of view 1945 01:20:10,470 --> 01:20:08,080 however you may come across as arrogant 1946 01:20:11,270 --> 01:20:10,480 and not get very far if you call it out 1947 01:20:13,590 --> 01:20:11,280 by name 1948 01:20:15,669 --> 01:20:13,600 to your opponent when you hear it being 1949 01:20:18,229 --> 01:20:15,679 used 1950 01:20:19,030 --> 01:20:18,239 if your opponent calls you out for using 1951 01:20:21,270 --> 01:20:19,040 one 1952 01:20:24,310 --> 01:20:21,280 it's time to stop and think about how 1953 01:20:26,470 --> 01:20:24,320 you are making your case 1954 01:20:27,669 --> 01:20:26,480 use your knowledge of logical fallacies 1955 01:20:30,390 --> 01:20:27,679 wisely 1956 01:20:31,669 --> 01:20:30,400 and remember that even if your point of 1957 01:20:33,990 --> 01:20:31,679 view is right 1958 01:20:35,270 --> 01:20:34,000 and you know all the pitfalls in arguing 1959 01:20:37,750 --> 01:20:35,280 your case 1960 01:20:38,950 --> 01:20:37,760 it doesn't always mean you'll win on the 1961 01:20:42,229 --> 01:20:38,960 day 1962 01:20:47,830 --> 01:20:42,239 and as skeptics we must also remember 1963 01:20:49,590 --> 01:20:47,840 that we too can be wrong at times 1964 01:21:01,030 --> 01:20:49,600 i'm michelle bickersma from the vic 1965 01:21:51,760 --> 01:21:01,040 skeptics thanks for listening