reply to post by muzzleflash
I'd go one step further and say critical thinking is the
only way to actually
know. We might guess the right answer to something, but
we'd never be sure we were right. Critical thinking is the only way to know anything for sure.
reply to post by Maddogkull
If we are here to deny ignorance, we can not accept guesswork as fact. That is a logical fallacy. It's not about importance, but evidence. Just
because something is really important to people doesn't instantly elevate it to the status of fact. That is the height of ignorance.
We can talk UFOs all we want. We can analyse photographs, look at radar traces, read reports from the field, declassified materials, etc. without
issue. That is critical thinking. But to leap to the conclusion that a particular UFO is extraterrestrial in origin, and under intelligent control,
is not engaging in critical thinking, but wild speculation. That is what we should avoid in that board. Of course there is evidence that
unidentified flying objects have existed. I never once said anything to the contrary.
But yeah, 'metaphysics' is just a pseudoscientific term for "wild guesswork", so I don't know why that board is even on ATS, as it can, by its
very definition, never uncover an actual demonstrable truth.
Being "open minded" doesn't help anyone if the mind in question is ill-equipped to differentiate between opinion and fact, which seems to be the
bread and butter of the paranormal board, for example.
My ideal world would not be like equilibrium at all. I love art in most of its forms, and require it on a daily basis. I refuse, however, to let
someone acting irrationally try to teach me something that should be taught using critical thinking. I wouldn't go to a doctor whose idea of healing
was to throw packs of frozen peas at me to satiate the pea demon that causes all human suffering, no matter how important it was to that "doctor" to
believe, or how amusing the concept is to some open-minded people.
If we really are here to deny ignorance, then there needs to be a massive culling of the cruft common throughout this site. It's embarrassing, and
only serves to damage the credibility of anyone who actually manages to find evidence for a real conspiracy (as detractors, operating irrationally,
can point to the myriad threads about Bigfoot's favourite sandwich in order to tar them with the crazy brush). Oh, and it serves to get page
impressions, which means more money from advertisers.
Denying ignorance is not as profitable as claiming to, while actually encouraging it. There are more ignorant people out there than critical
thinkers, and advertisers pay the same for adverts served to both. You can do the maths here
Sorry if that contravenes the Terms and Conditions,
mods - feel free to trim that last bit out if it does (but please leave the rest).