دانلود کتاب Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal: A Critical Thinke

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Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal Contents About the Author Preface Acknowledgments PART I Introduction 1 The Continuum Mysteriosum Making Sense out of Mysteries: The Continuum Mysteriosum Extraordinary, Nonparanormal Mysteries An Invitation 2 Why Study These Things? The Dangers of Unexamined Paranormal Claims The Risk of Paranormal! Passion and the Critical Thinker’s Toolkit Eight Reality Checks: The Critical Thinker’s Toolkit PART II THE CRITICAL THINKER’S TOOLKIT Evaluate Support For A Claim 3 Reality Check: Are the Sources Credible? Astrology. Questionable Sources The Question of Authority When Experts Get It Wrong An Invitation to Question 4 Reality Check: Is the Logic Valid and Sound? Basic Logic Informal Logical Fallacies Premises, Logic, and Hypothesis Testing 5 Reality Check: Are Claims Based on Observation (Scientific Tests and Theories)? Observations Tests Theories Sagan’s Balance and the FEDS Standard Science and Alternative Hypotheses CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS 6 Reality Checking for Oddities of Nature and the World of Numbers Probability Estimates and Bias Math Ignorance Coincidences The Clumpiness of Randomness The Law of Very Large Numbers Science and Chance Summary: Psychic Bias 7 Reality Checking for Perceptual Error and Trickery Top-Down Processes and Perception Manipulations of Magicians and Psychics: The Cold Reading Toolkit Hypnotic Suggestion Enhancers Perceptual Bias in the Mental Health Professions 8 Reality Checking for Memory Errors Memory Myths What Is Memory? Memory Errors Déja vu The Déja vu Reality Check 9 Reality Checking for the Placebo Effect What are Placebos? Weak and Strong Placebos How Placebos Work Placebos and Superstitious Beliefs Placebo Controversies Placebos and Performance 10 Reality Checking for Sensory Anomalies and Hallucinations Sensory Phenomena Migraines Tunnel Experiences Hallucinations Hallucinations and the Critical Thinker’s Toolkit Dissociation and the Paranormal PART III THE PARANORMAL FILES 11 Spiritualism and the Survival Hypothesis Spiritualism Research on Life after Death Research on Channeling and Mediums Conclusion 12 Parapsychology The Language of Parapsychology Research on Psi Conclusion: The State of Psi Research 13 Energy Treatments and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Contemporary Views of Energy: The Scientific Perspective Concepts of Energy in Children and Western History: Vitalism Chinese History and Energy: The Yin—Yang School Chinese Energy Treatments Western Energy Treatments Conclusion 14 Supernatural Cures and Faith Healing The Varieties of Healing Experience The Evidence Conclusion 15 Creationism, Intelligent Design, and God The Great Debate Things Great and Small 16 The Reality Checkup: Using Your Toolkit The Reality Checkup How to Carry on a Civilized Discussion about the Paranormal Parting Words: Pandora’s Challenge Appendix A Complementary and Alternative Medicine Appendix B Critical Thinking and Paranormal Resources Appendix C Susan Blackmore on Paranormal Research Notes References Name Index Subject Index