James Randi's Blog, page 24

Jennifer Michael Hecht - The Poetry of Skepticism | For Good Reason

Jennifer Michael Hecht - The Poetry of Skepticism | For Good Reason


Jennifer Michael Hecht discusses art, poetry and literature as an entree into skepticism and critical thinking. As an historian of science, she contrasts the poetic stance with the scientific worldview. She talks about temporal biases within science, and urges scientific humility, as opposed to scientism. She criticizes some forms of skepticism within the humanities that consider science to be just one mythic narrative among many others. And she explores how poetry and ritual may enrich the skeptical life.
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68

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Time:
31:38
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Lionel Tiger - God's Brain | For Good Reason

Lionel Tiger - God's Brain | For Good Reason


Lionel Tiger, Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University, talks about how religion takes place in brains, and not just in churches, temples and mosques. He explains how the brain created religion, and how religion feeds the brain. He relates his own experiences of religion, as a skeptic. He contrasts his approach to the scientific study of religion with that of the New Atheists, such as Richard Dawkins. He describes how feelings of connection resulting from religion are a function of neurochemistry, and how churches are "serotonin factories." He talks about why interest in human sexuality is so often intertwined with religious pursuits. And he explores why secular institutions may fail to inspire commitment as compared to religion. Also in this episode, the Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss, talks about sports and the element of deception.
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Views:
173

14
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Time:
56:46
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The Randi Show - Psychic Charlatans

The Randi Show - Psychic Charlatans


The Randi Show is a biweekly video podcast produced by the James Randi Educational Foundation. James Randi himself discusses news from the world of science, pseudoscience, and the paranormal. Plus, he shares some stories from his amazing life. In this episode, Randi discusses the recent conviction of a self-proclaimed psychic for theft. Plus, he talks about laws against storefront psychics and how these types of frauds operate around the world.
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Views:
301

130
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Time:
12:55
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Christopher Hitchens at the Amazing Meeting 5

Christopher Hitchens at the Amazing Meeting 5


Christopher Hitchens speaks and takes questions from the crowd at the James Randi Educational Foundation's TAM5 in 2007.
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490

173
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Time:
31:54
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Harriet Hall - Science-Based Medicine | For Good Reason

Harriet Hall - Science-Based Medicine | For Good Reason


Harriet Hall, MD, The SkepDoc, discusses her column in O, The Oprah Magazine that focuses on debunking medical myths. She contrasts science-based medicine and "complementary and alternative medicine," and tells why she objects to the latter term. She details why homeopathy elicits more moral outrage from her than other kinds of CAM remedies. Other topics she addresses include acupuncture, chiropractic, radical life extension, pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers, the difference between fringe-science and pseudoscience, and also the risks of science-based medicine. Also in this episode, The Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss, talks about his hobby: collecting pseudosciences.
From:
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Views:
340

26
ratings
Time:
37:23
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Carol Tavris - Mistakes Were Made | For Good Reason

Carol Tavris - Mistakes Were Made | For Good Reason


Carol Tavris describes dissonance theory and how self-justification and self-deception often keep people from changing their minds even in the light of compelling contrary evidence, because the evidence is often dissonant with one's self-image. She details the implications of dissonance theory for the persistence of psychic charlatans and other peddlers of the paranormal, and how it may explain how someone like Sylvia Brown can live with herself, and also how it may explain how believers remain so gullible about such unsupportable claims. She describes confirmation bias as a component of dissonance theory. She talks about how dissonance theory applies to the skeptic movement, both in terms of suggesting the best strategies for engaging the credulous, and in terms of fostering skepticism about one's own skeptical views. And she argues that skepticism should be affirmative rather than destructive in its approach, and focused on both critical thinking and creative thinking alike. Also in this episode, The Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss, talks about who psychics really see when they look in the mirror.
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Views:
97

4
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Time:
57:43
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Richard Dawkins - Framing Charles Darwin | For Good Reason

Richard Dawkins - Framing Charles Darwin | For Good Reason


Richard Dawkins talks about Darwin Day and communicating with the public about Darwinism, and which should be the highest priority: evolution education or widespread skepticism about the supernatural, including theism. He denies that he is strident. He explores concerns over immorality that may fuel opposition to Darwinsim. He explains how creationists are like Holocaust deniers. He describes the benefits of accepting the theory of evolution. And he details lines of evidence for evolution, such as those coming from molecular biology.
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1185

100
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Time:
34:50
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Daniel Loxton - Evolution for Kids | For Good Reason

Daniel Loxton - Evolution for Kids | For Good Reason


Daniel Loxton, editor of Junior Skeptic, talks about his children's book Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be. He explores why books about evolution for children are so rare. He explains how children can become filled with "spiritual" awe by learning about evolution. And he talks about how he challenged creationism and addressed the religion vs. science controversy in the book.
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Views:
446

33
ratings
Time:
27:54
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James Randi -The Importance of the JREF | For Good Reason

James Randi -The Importance of the JREF | For Good Reason


James Randi discusses his health and cancer treatment pseudoscience. He talks about JREF's future, including expansion of the Million Dollar Challenge, a renewed focus on the skeptic grassroots, and international expansion of The Amaz!ng Meetings. He also reacts to the arrest of bomb dowsing huckster James McCormick on fraud charges, stressing the real-world implications of the skeptical outlook.
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Views:
55

4
ratings
Time:
36:31
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The Randi Show - NCCAM

The Randi Show - NCCAM


The Randi Show is a biweekly video podcast produced by the James Randi Educational Foundation. James Randi himself discusses news from the world of science, pseudoscience, and the paranormal. Plus, he shares some stories from his amazing life. In this episode, Randi discusses the latest report on the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. How many millions have been spent figuring out whether smells can heal wounds or whether coffee enemas can cure prostate cancer? And what can we do about it?
From:
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Views:
306

164
ratings
Time:
11:07
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