Reason, Logic, and Apologetics Cards

As you might guess, Shermer means that, obviously, the fact that a claim is stated in bold or grandiose terms by no means affects its truth value, and in fact is usually a red flag signalling pseudoscience. For example, L. Ron Hubbard, the great father of Scientology, opens his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, with the statement: “The creation of Dianetics is a milestone for man comparable ot his discovery of fire and superior to his invention of the wheel and the arch.” Most of us can be fairly certain that this is ridiculous, and that Dianetics is in fact based largely if not completely upon psuedoscience.

Philosophical Atheism-Religion is a superstition: there is no proof of God's existence.

Ergo Propter Hoc - relies on coincidences.

Related to causation fallacy Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (after this, therefore because of this) it is not the same.

Form of superstition: poker player & his lucky socks.

Scientific studies can subtly succumb to this fallacy.

1993 study finding that breast fed babies eventually have higher IQs .

Assume that breast milk held some sort of magic ingredient, overlooking the potential variance in amount of attention paid to breast fed babies by their mothers.

Biological Atheism-The evolutionary theory answers the question of origins

Just because a person cannot explain something does not mean that there is not a simple or logical explanation for the phenomena.

Example: magic tricks. While an illusion appears to defy logical explanations, it does not have to be supernatural or magic. Usually there is a very simple explanation.

Inspired by historical figures like Columbus or Galileo who went against the “common knowledge” of their times.

Thus the temptation to believe that ideas from “experts” (the heretic) who is willing to make great sacrifices, may have significant truth potential.

However, not all heretics are correct. Each idea must undergo a series of peer review-type examinations and appropriate tests.

Appeal to pity - accepting an argument out of sympathy for the people involved.

logic fallacy to argue for a point because of the authority of the person who presented it, rather than because it is logical.

Example: Ludacris - authoritative rapper. However, lyrics in “Move B****” go as follows.
“I'm D.U.I., hardly ever caught sober
and you about to get ran the **** over”

Clearly, his claims are coming from “authority” yet people should not take his advise and act in the manner described in his songs.

Definition: a circular argument in which one already assumes the point that they are trying to prove. They assume the conclusion is true by using basing the premises off of it.

Example: Someone asks a man why he loves his wife. He replies that he loves her because she is the mother of his children. When asked why she had his children he says because he loved her.

an attempt to prove God;s existance through valid, sound arguments

Consciousness could not have evolved from un-conscious matter.

1.All events have a cause
2.The universe began to exist (an event)
3.The Universe has a cause