
Revised
2007
By Winston Wu
Table of Contents
How
this article came to be written
The
true skeptic vs. the pseudo-skeptic
Common tactics of pseudo-skeptics
Section
I: General arguments against the
paranormal
Argument # 1: It is irrational to believe anything that hasn’t been proven.
Argument
# 2: Extraordinary claims require
extraordinary evidence.
- Extraordinary evidence for 4 phenomena
Argument
# 3: The Occam’s Razor rule.
Argument
# 4: The invisible pink unicorn
comparison tactic / Santa Claus gambit.
Argument
# 5: The “anecdotal evidence is invalid”
argument.
-
Factors measuring degree of reliability in anecdotal evidence
- The Ebay feedback test that a skeptic failed, demonstraing what they’re really about
Argument
# 6: The memory malleability argument to
dismiss anecdotal evidence.
Argument
# 8: There is no hard evidence to
support any paranormal phenomena.
Argument
# 9: Science is the only reliable
method.
Argument
# 11: Unexplainable does not mean
inexplicable.
Argument
# 15: Skeptics are defending science and
reason from a rising tide of irrationality.
Section
II: Arguments against specific
paranormal phenomena
Argument
# 18: No psychic phenomenon has been
demonstrated under controlled conditions.
Argument
# 19: Alternative medical practices only
work due to the placebo effect.
Argument
# 20: Miracles are impossible and defy
everything we know about science and anatomy.
Argument
# 21: The Skeptical explanation for
answered prayers.
- My own theory on how and why prayer works
Argument
# 22: The Skeptical explanation for
precognitive dreams.
Argument
# 23: The Dying Brain Hypothesis for
Near Death Experiences.
Argument
# 25: Spiritual experiences only exist
in your mind, not in external reality.
Argument
# 30: The James Randi
million dollar psychic challenge argument.
Dr. Rupert Sheldrake’s
groundbreaking new research and findings into telepathy
My
radio interview and how to listen to it online
A
famous skeptic recants her prior conclusions
Study shows higher education linked to belief in paranormal
Links
to sites on pseudo-skepticism and paranormal research
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