ReHacked vol. 239: Carl Sagan’s Rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking, The Japanese Art of Luggage Forwarding, 2,100-year-old gold coin bears name of obscure ruler from pre-Roman and more
ReHacked vol. 239: Carl Sagan’s Rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking, The Japanese Art of Luggage Forwarding, 2,100-year-old gold coin bears name of obscure ruler from pre-Roman and more
The Baloney Detection Kit: Carl Sagan’s Rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking – The Marginalian #longread In a chapter titled “The Fine Art of Baloney Detection,” Sagan reflects on the many types of deception to which we’re susceptible — from psychics to religious zealotry to paid product endorsements by scientists, which he held in especially low regard, noting that they “betray contempt for the intelligence of their customers” and “introduce an insidious corruption of popular attitudes about scientific objectivity.” (Cue in PBS’s Joe Hanson on how to read science news.) But rather than preaching from the ivory tower of self-righteousness, Sagan approaches the subject from the most vulnerable of places — having just lost both of his parents, he reflects on the all too human allure of promises of supernatural reunions in the afterlife, reminding us that falling for such fictions doesn’t make us stupid or bad people, but simply means that we need to equip ourselves with the right tools against them.
Great roundup as always!