The Hypothesis That Saves the Day. Ad Hoc Reasoning in Pseudoscience
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Utilitarianism & the Afterlife
Utilitarianism & the Afterlife The paradox of a pleasant hereafter Betsy McCall The goal of Utilitarianism is to lay out a moral philosophy to provide us a way of living, and a way of making difficult moral choices correctly(Mill, 2001) in circumstances which are uncommon enough that experience has not, or cannot, prepare us for the solution. But in doing so, Utilitarianism must confront the same moral challenges confronted by all moral philosophies, including the consequences of belief in the afterlife(Hasker, 2005). The afterlife has provided a complex moral challenge for many moral philosophical frameworks throughout the ages, from Buddhism to Christianity. Buddhism posits that life is suffering, and that the ultimate goal of living is really to escape living altogether by achieving nirvana, or at least, a better life in the next reincarnation(Becker, 1993). Christianity similarly puts this life into a comparison with another better alternative, in this case, the possibility of an infinitely better afterlife in heaven with god and the angels(Pohle, 1920). In both cases, the philosophical frameworks have been forced to incorporate specific prohibitions against suicide in order to avoid the apparently logical conclusion that death is preferable to life, and we would do well to get ourselves there as quickly as possible. Mill, in arguing for Utilitarianism, does not specifically address this question, perhaps because Mill himself gave the afterlife little personal credence(Wilson, 2009). However, writing to a largely Christian Western audience, like Christianity, and a deep-seated historical affinity for belief in reincarnation(Haraldsson, 2005), Mill and his followers must be prepared to address this potential concern. -
Argumentation and Fallacies in Creationist Writings Against Evolutionary Theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1
Nieminen and Mustonen Evolution: Education and Outreach 2014, 7:11 http://www.evolution-outreach.com/content/7/1/11 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Argumentation and fallacies in creationist writings against evolutionary theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1 Abstract Background: The creationist–evolutionist conflict is perhaps the most significant example of a debate about a well-supported scientific theory not readily accepted by the public. Methods: We analyzed creationist texts according to type (young earth creationism, old earth creationism or intelligent design) and context (with or without discussion of “scientific” data). Results: The analysis revealed numerous fallacies including the direct ad hominem—portraying evolutionists as racists, unreliable or gullible—and the indirect ad hominem, where evolutionists are accused of breaking the rules of debate that they themselves have dictated. Poisoning the well fallacy stated that evolutionists would not consider supernatural explanations in any situation due to their pre-existing refusal of theism. Appeals to consequences and guilt by association linked evolutionary theory to atrocities, and slippery slopes to abortion, euthanasia and genocide. False dilemmas, hasty generalizations and straw man fallacies were also common. The prevalence of these fallacies was equal in young earth creationism and intelligent design/old earth creationism. The direct and indirect ad hominem were also prevalent in pro-evolutionary texts. Conclusions: While the fallacious arguments are irrelevant when discussing evolutionary theory from the scientific point of view, they can be effective for the reception of creationist claims, especially if the audience has biases. Thus, the recognition of these fallacies and their dismissal as irrelevant should be accompanied by attempts to avoid counter-fallacies and by the recognition of the context, in which the fallacies are presented. -
Greek and Latin Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
GREEK AND LATIN ROOTS, PREFIXES, AND SUFFIXES This is a resource pack that I put together for myself to teach roots, prefixes, and suffixes as part of a separate vocabulary class (short weekly sessions). It is a combination of helpful resources that I have found on the web as well as some tips of my own (such as the simple lesson plan). Lesson Plan Ideas ........................................................................................................... 3 Simple Lesson Plan for Word Study: ........................................................................... 3 Lesson Plan Idea 2 ...................................................................................................... 3 Background Information .................................................................................................. 5 Why Study Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes? ......................................................... 6 Latin and Greek Word Elements .............................................................................. 6 Latin Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes .......................................................................... 6 Root, Prefix, and Suffix Lists ........................................................................................... 8 List 1: MEGA root list ................................................................................................... 9 List 2: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes .......................................................................... 32 List 3: Prefix List ...................................................................................................... -
Foundations of Nursing Science 9781284041347 CH01.Indd Page 2 10/23/13 10:44 AM Ff-446 /207/JB00090/Work/Indd
9781284041347_CH01.indd Page 1 10/23/13 10:44 AM ff-446 /207/JB00090/work/indd © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION PART 1 Foundations of Nursing Science 9781284041347_CH01.indd Page 2 10/23/13 10:44 AM ff-446 /207/JB00090/work/indd © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 9781284041347_CH01.indd Page 3 10/23/13 10:44 AM ff-446 /207/JB00090/work/indd © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION CHAPTER Philosophy of Science: An Introduction 1 E. Carol Polifroni Introduction A philosophy of science is a perspective—a lens, a way one views the world, and, in the case of advanced practice nurses, the viewpoint the nurse acts from in every encounter with a patient, family, or group. A person’s philosophy of science cre- ates the frame on a picture—a message that becomes a paradigm and a point of reference. Each individual’s philosophy of science will permit some things to be seen and cause others to be blocked. It allows people to be open to some thoughts and potentially keeps them closed to others. A philosophy will deem some ideas correct, others inconsistent, and some simply wrong. While philosophy of sci- ence is not meant to be viewed as a black or white proposition, it does provide perspectives that include some ideas and thoughts and, therefore, it must neces- sarily exclude others. The important key is to ensure that the ideas and thoughts within a given philosophy remain consistent with one another, rather than being in opposition. -
Principles of Scientific Inquiry
Chapter 2 PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY Introduction This chapter provides a summary of the principles of scientific inquiry. The purpose is to explain terminology, and introduce concepts, which are explained more completely in later chapters. Much of the content has been based on explanations and examples given by Wilson (1). The Scientific Method Although most of us have heard, at some time in our careers, that research must be carried out according to “the scientific method”, there is no single, scientific method. The term is usually used to mean a systematic approach to solving a problem in science. Three types of investigation, or method, can be recognized: · The Observational Method · The Experimental (and quasi-experimental) Methods, and · The Survey Method. The observational method is most common in the natural sciences, especially in fields such as biology, geology and environmental science. It involves recording observations according to a plan, which prescribes what information to collect, where it should be sought, and how it should be recorded. In the observational method, the researcher does not control any of the variables. In fact, it is important that the research be carried out in such a manner that the investigations do not change the behaviour of what is being observed. Errors introduced as a result of observing a phenomenon are known as systematic errors because they apply to all observations. Once a valid statistical sample (see Chapter Four) of observations has been recorded, the researcher analyzes and interprets the data, and develops a theory or hypothesis, which explains the observations. The experimental method begins with a hypothesis. -
Sacred Rhetorical Invention in the String Theory Movement
University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Communication Studies Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research Communication Studies, Department of Spring 4-12-2011 Secular Salvation: Sacred Rhetorical Invention in the String Theory Movement Brent Yergensen University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/commstuddiss Part of the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Yergensen, Brent, "Secular Salvation: Sacred Rhetorical Invention in the String Theory Movement" (2011). Communication Studies Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research. 6. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/commstuddiss/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication Studies, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communication Studies Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. SECULAR SALVATION: SACRED RHETORICAL INVENTION IN THE STRING THEORY MOVEMENT by Brent Yergensen A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Major: Communication Studies Under the Supervision of Dr. Ronald Lee Lincoln, Nebraska April, 2011 ii SECULAR SALVATION: SACRED RHETORICAL INVENTION IN THE STRING THEORY MOVEMENT Brent Yergensen, Ph.D. University of Nebraska, 2011 Advisor: Ronald Lee String theory is argued by its proponents to be the Theory of Everything. It achieves this status in physics because it provides unification for contradictory laws of physics, namely quantum mechanics and general relativity. While based on advanced theoretical mathematics, its public discourse is growing in prevalence and its rhetorical power is leading to a scientific revolution, even among the public. -
Hempel and Confirmation Theory
Hempel and Confirmation Theory Jan Sprenger* June 15, 2020 Carl Gustav Hempel (1905–1997) was one of the primary exponents of logical empiricism. As a student and member of the Gesellschaft für em- pirische Philosophie in Berlin, alongside Reichenbach and Grelling, he wit- nessed the emergence of logical empiricism as a philosophical program. From the mid-1930s onwards, his contributions shaped its development, too. Hempel studied primarily in Göttingen and Berlin, but in 1929/30, he also spent a semester in Vienna studying with Carnap and partici- pated in the activities of the Vienna Circle. Both societies joined forces for organizing scientific events, and founded the journal Erkenntnis in 1930, where many seminal papers of logical empiricism were published, with Carnap and Reichenbach as editors. While the work of the Berlin philosophers is congenial to the project of the Vienna Circle, there are important differences, too. Neither Hempel nor his mentor Reichenbach identified “scientific philosophy” with the project of cleansing science of meaningless statements (e.g., Carnap 1930). Rather, Hempel extensively used a method that Carnap would apply in later works on probability and confirmation (Carnap 1950, 1952): expli- cation, that is, the replacement of a vague and imprecise pre-theoretical concept (e.g., “confirmation”) by a fruitful and precise concept (e.g., a formal confirmation criterion). Relying on the method of explication, Hempel developed adequacy conditions on a qualitative concept of con- firmation (Hempel 1943, 1945a,b), a probabilistic measure of degree of *Contact information: Center for Logic, Language and Cognition (LLC), Department of Philosophy and Education Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Sant’Ottavio 20, 10124 Torino, Italy. -
The Synchronicity of Hope and Enhanced Quality of Life in Terminal Cancer
University of Central Florida STARS Honors Undergraduate Theses UCF Theses and Dissertations 2016 The Synchronicity of Hope and Enhanced Quality of Life in Terminal Cancer Brianna M. Terry University of Central Florida Part of the Nursing Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the UCF Theses and Dissertations at STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Undergraduate Theses by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Recommended Citation Terry, Brianna M., "The Synchronicity of Hope and Enhanced Quality of Life in Terminal Cancer" (2016). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 75. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/75 THE SYNCHRONICITY OF HOPE AND ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE IN TERMINAL CANCER by BRIANNA TERRY A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Honors in the Major Program in Nursing in the College of Nursing and in the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term, 2016 Thesis Chair: Dr. Susan Chase Abstract Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of death worldwide. The rate of mortality is currently approximately 171.2 out of every 100,000 individuals with a terminal cancer diagnosis annually. Individuals with terminal cancer diagnoses facing probable mortality utilize various coping mechanisms or internal resources in an attempt to maintain an internal sense of well-being, commonly referred to as quality of life (QOL). -
A Coherentist Conception of Ad Hoc Hypotheses
A coherentist conception of ad hoc hypotheses Samuel Schindler [email protected] forthcoming in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Abstract What does it mean for a hypothesis to be ad hoc? One prominent account has it that ad hoc hypotheses have no independent empirical support. Others have viewed ad hoc judgements as subjective. Here I critically review both of these views and defend my own Coherentist Conception of Ad hocness by working out its conceptual and descriptive attractions. Keywords: ad hoc; confirmation; independent support; novel success; coherence 1 Introduction It is widely agreed—amongst scientists and philosophers alike—that a good hypothesis ought not to be ad hoc. Consequently, a theory that requires ad hoc hypotheses in order to overcome empirical tests ought to be less acceptable for a rational agent than a theory that does without (or with fewer) ad hoc amendments. But what precisely does it mean for a hypothesis to be ad hoc? This is what this paper is about. Concept clarification is one of the central tasks of philosophy. Usually, it involves an explicandum and an explicatum, viz. a pre-analytic concept that is to be explicated and a concept which explicates this concept, respectively (Carnap 1950). For example, the concept TEMPERATURE explicates our pre- analytic concepts of WARM and COLD, and allows us to be much more precise and clear in the way we communicate with each other. In the case of ad hocness, the pre-analytic concept is something along the lines of “was introduced for the sole purpose of ‘saving’ a theory which faces observational anomalies”. -
Science and Religion
Science and Religion: A Conflict of Methods Timothy Alexander Smith A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Otago, June 2017. i Abstract There is an epistemological conflict between religion and science. While the claims of science are justified using epistemic methods whose reliability has been corroborated by other people and by other methods, the claims of religion are not justified in the same way. Different methods are used. This thesis offers both a comprehensive description of the distinctive epistemic methods of religion and a philosophical appraisal of the claim that such methods are knowledge-conferring. The methods explored are various and care has been taken to sample a broad range of religious cultures. It is found that the same religious methods, when used to answer the same questions, generate different answers for different practitioners. Additionally, the results of religious methods fail to agree with the results of other epistemic methods when employed independently. This lack of independent agreement is the primary reason for the exclusion of religious methods from science. It is further argued that (a) this lack of agreement is evidence that religious methods are unreliable, and (b) the agreement generated by scientific methods is evidence for their reliability. ii Acknowledgements In 2013, I approached Greg Dawes at the AAPNZ Conference at the University of Auckland. ‘What’s wrong with creationism?’ I asked him. ‘Is it untestable in principle or has it simply failed too many tests?’ I can’t remember Greg’s exact reply, but this thesis was the result. -
De Hardnekkigheid Van God
E&M2013.nr.2.book Page 91 Friday, May 23, 2014 3:29 PM De hardnekkigheid van God Een kritische beschouwing naar aanleiding van Stefan Paas en Rik Peels: God bewijzen (2013) Maarten Boudry1 (Nota van de redactie: Stefan Paas heeft een kritische reactie op deze bespreking gepubliceerd onder de titel Showdown in Bright Village. De tekst is terug te vinden op de Liberales website, via http://liberales.be/ essays/paas). God is terug! Dat willen sommige opiniemakers ons toch wijsmaken (Sjoerd De Jong in NRC 20/12). Hoelang is hij al terug onder ons? In 2009 al schreef John Micklethwait, hoofdredacteur van The Economist, samen met zijn collega Adrian Wooldridge een boek met de spraakmakende titel God is Back (Micklethwait & Wooldridge 2009). Nog wat eerder, in 1990, liet de socioloog Peter Berger opte- kenen dat het afgelopen is met de secularisatie. Maar in 1980 berichtte Time ook al over Gods vermeende comeback. Is hij eigenlijk ooit weggeweest? In ieder geval: terug is hij! Ettelijke malen is zijn graf al gedolven, maar telkens opnieuw herrijst hij. Hij werft adolescenten op wereldjongerendagen, laat moskeeën volstromen, verovert het Afrikaanse continent, heeft een nieuwe en bezielende plaatsvervanger op aarde, en doet af en toe een ambassade ontploffen. Dwars- boomt God zelve de onomkeerbaar geachte secularisatie? Zelfs ongelovigen voelen zich genoodzaakt om de strijdbijl weer op te graven (Mortier 2011; Philipse 2012; van den Berg 2009; Verhofstadt 2013; Loftus 2010). Een atheïst met een slecht karakter zou dat het argument uit hardnekkigheid kunnen noemen. Verklaar God dood zoveel je wil, op marktpleinen en in atheïs- tische manifesten, maar we blijven lekker geloven. -
Doctoraat FINAAL .Pdf
Here be dragons Here Exploring the hinterland of science Maarten Boudry Here be dragons Exploring the hinterland of science Maarten Boudry ISBN978-90-7083-018-2 Proefschrift voorgedragen tot het bekomen van de graad van Doctor in de Wijsbegeerte Promotor: Prof. dr. Johan Braeckman Supervisor Prof. dr. Johan Braeckman Wijsbegeerte en moraalwetenschap Dean Prof. dr. Freddy Mortier Rector Prof. dr. Paul Van Cauwenberghe Nederlandse vertaling: Hic sunt dracones. Een filosofische verkenning van pseudowetenschap en randwetenschap Cover: The image on the front cover is an excerpt of a map by the Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius, originally published in Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570). ISBN: 978-90-7083-018-2 The author and the promoter give the authorisation to consult and to copy parts of this work for personal use only. Every other use is subject to the copyright laws. Permission to reproduce any material contained in this work should be obtained from the author. Faculty of Arts & Humanities Maarten Boudry Here be Dragons Exploring the Hinterland of Science Proefschrift voorgedragen tot het bekomen van de graad van Doctor in de Wijsbegeerte 2011 Acknowledgements This dissertation could not have been written without the invaluable help of a number of people (a philosopher cannot help but thinking of them as a set of individually necessary and jointly sufficient conditions). Different parts of this work have greatly benefited from stimulating discussions with many colleagues and friends, among whom Barbara Forrest, John Teehan, Herman Philipse, Helen De Cruz, Taner Edis, Nicholas Humphrey, Geerdt Magiels, Bart Klink, Glenn Branch, Larry Moran, Jerry Coyne, Michael Ruse, Steve Zara, Amber Griffioen, Johan De Smedt, Lien Van Speybroeck, and Evan Fales.