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Part one is about how science works even when the public thinks it doesn't. Part two will certainly ruffle some feathers by offering a reason- and science-based perspective on issues where political correctness has gone awry. Part three provides some data-driven advice for your health and well-being. Part four looks at human behavior and how we can better navigate our social worlds. In part five we put on our skeptical goggles and critically examine a few commonly-held beliefs. In the final section, we look at a few ways how we all can make the world a better place.
* This is for the author's bookstore only. Applies to autographed hardcover, audiobook, and ebook.
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Let's use an extreme to explore this question. Can we falsify the claim that the earth is flat? Yes, we can. Within dozens of scientific and academic disciplines, there are ways to falsify claims of a flat earth. Yet flat earthers will continue to either reject reality and facts often by committing the conspiracy theory fallacy. This doesn't mean that the claim is unfalsifiable; it just means some people don't accept facts. What is going on with the US election is no different. |
answered on Sunday, Aug 15, 2021 12:53:15 PM by Bo Bennett, PhD | |
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I guess we need to share a common understanding of "falsifiable" in order to be able to reach a conclusion we can all accept. If we don't, we're into the realm of equivocation where a term is open to multiple understandings of meanings leading to different interpretations. If by "falsifiable" we mean able to demonstrate using generally accepted evidence that something is wrong, then re-counting the available ballots might do it. If by "falsifiable" we mean providing evidence that I'm prepared to accept and that supports my understanding of reality ... well, it's a more difficult task. In the election example, the "re-count" process would need to demonstrate things like: all original ballots having been retained, that no new ballots were added, that determination of spoiled or non-acceptable ballots remained consistent and correct, and that the re-counts were the same as the original ones. (Those criteria were the ones that came to mind for me quickly). Of course, if some other person thinks of an additional criterion that wasn't in my list, it would need to be confirmed before that other person would accept the evidence even though I might accept the evidence based on my list. Then, of course, there are always the highly unlikely situations – like imposters transporting ballots to central counting areas and disposing of certain ballots before they get to the counting table so that the original count was incorrect and that subsequent re-counts would confirm the same incorrect number because the missing ballots remain missing. While it's NOT a straw man, it seems that there will always be straws at which one can grab! |
answered on Monday, Aug 16, 2021 10:31:28 AM by Arlo | |
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