Pseudo Science final Exam

time travel

is logically impossible

What​ ​test​ ​was​ ​used​ ​on​ ​The​ ​One:​ ​Australia's​ ​Most​ ​Gifted​ ​Psychic​ ​to​ ​test​ ​the ability​ ​of​ ​psychics​ ​to​ ​find​ ​missing​ ​children?

location test? physic detective test

In​ ​class,​ ​I​ ​introduced​ ​a​ ​5​th​ ​hypothesis:​ ​namely,​ ​that​ ​ghosts​ ​are​ ​beings​ ​that​ ​can seen​ ​and​ ​move​ ​through​ ​more​ ​than​ ​just​ ​3​ ​spatial​ ​dimensions.​ ​ ​Is​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​that there​ ​could​ ​be​ ​more​ ​than​ ​just​ ​3​ ​spatial​ ​dimensions​ ​at​ ​odds​ ​with​ ​current​ ​physics?

no

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​"pros"​ ​and​ ​"cons"​ ​of​ ​that​ ​test?

pro's: if they are actually psychic it could be very useful cons: if it is just luck then they may be wasting their time and money using a psychic.

How​ ​is​ ​infrasound​ ​potentially​ ​relevant​ ​to​ ​the​ ​question​ ​of​ ​the​ ​existence​ ​of​ ​ghosts?

the sounds they are making are slightly below what we can hear, so it we pick up noise in that threshold then it will trigger the idea that there is another presence.

What​ ​other​ ​uses​ ​have​ ​people​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​find​ ​for​ ​infrasound?

weapons

​What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​techniques​ ​of​ ​cold​ ​reading​ ​identified​ ​by​ ​the​ ​class?

-Ask open-ended/ vague questions...let the subject fill in the details. -When subject fills in details, make it seem like those details were part of your original statement. -Hit the "big topics" that people are usually concerned about and may be interested in talking to a psychic about: Death, destiny, $$$, friends/family/relationships, romantic interests/concerns, ambitions/dreams/plans for the future -Set the mood: comfortable, but make it feel "mystical", give people what they expect from psychic readers..... -tell them its a team effort so if they are wrong they can blame it on the other person

​Beyerstein​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​interpret​ ​this​ ​claim​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​only​ ​10%​ ​of​ ​our​ ​brain undergoing​ ​any​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​activity​ ​and​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​it​ ​being​ ​completely​ ​inactive.​ ​ ​What is​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​scientific​ ​evidence​ ​that​ ​he​ ​cites​ ​against​ ​the​ ​10%​ ​claim​ ​interpreted in​ ​this​ ​way?

-Brain damage allows results in some kind of deficit/ impairment -Sometimes it can be hard to recognize deficit/impairment outside the lab -Brain scanning technology reveals that most of our brain is active most of the time. -Neurons die if not used -Many cognitive functions appear to be localized in different regions of the brain

What​ ​would​ ​it​ ​be​ ​like​ ​for​ ​us​ ​to​ ​interact​ ​with​ ​such​ ​beings?​ ​ ​(What​ ​would​ ​it​ ​be​ ​like for​ ​beings​ ​that​ ​can​ ​only​ ​see​ ​and​ ​move​ ​through​ ​2​ ​spatial​ ​dimensions​ ​to​ ​interact with​ ​us?)

-Mr square, talk to him =disemboded voice -objects suddenly appear and mysteriously disappear -a dot pops into existence and suddenly gets bigger -can follow you into locked rooms and solid walls

What​ ​happens​ ​in​ ​the​ ​double​ ​slit​ ​experiment?​ ​ ​(In​ ​what​ ​scenario​ ​do​ ​electrons​ ​act like​ ​waves?​ ​ ​In​ ​what​ ​scenario​ ​do​ ​they​ ​act​ ​like​ ​particles?)

-Scientific experiment about the two slits in the sheet of steel, when we don't observe, they behave in a wavelike matter, if we do observe they get a different pattern. -All depends on whether or not we observe it.

According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Many​ ​Worlds​ ​Interpretation,​ ​what​ ​does​ ​measurement​ ​(or observation)​ ​do​ ​to​ ​the​ ​probability​ ​wave?

-The many worlds interpretation is meant to make the collapse of the probability wave appear less arbitrary. -The act of measurement creates all the probabilities/possibilities described in the wave.. -where are probabilities becoming real? other universes

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​10​ ​features​ ​that​ ​Shermer​ ​says​ ​we​ ​should​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​when evaluating​ ​conspiracy​ ​theories?​ ​ ​(How​ ​does​ ​the​ ​story​ ​of​ ​the​ ​conspiracy​ ​to assassinate​ ​archduke​ ​Franz​ ​Ferdinand​ ​reveal​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​difficulties​ ​of​ ​executing a​ ​complicated​ ​conspiracy?)

-ad hoc -the conspiracy to assassinate was largely complex with a lot of people, the probability of messing up was high

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​alternative​ ​explanations,​ ​besides​ ​ghosts,​ ​for​ ​what​ ​we​ ​see​ ​in​ ​the video​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hunted​ ​school?

-someone was shaking file cabinet -editing

What​ ​connections​ ​are​ ​there​ ​between​ ​the​ ​10%​ ​claim​ ​and​ ​claims​ ​about parapsychology​ ​or​ ​self-help (hypnosis/telepathy)

-sometime people who have the ability to read minds or have a 6th sense are said to be a case where people use more than 10% of their brains

what are pro and cons to the location test?

-sometimes it is accurate but other time it is not and can lead to the children, most were unsuccessful -only 2 were successful

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​our​ ​general​ ​cognitive​ ​tendencies​ ​that​ ​could​ ​lead​ ​us​ ​towards conspiracy​ ​theories?

-we see things as patterns

​ ​According​ ​to​ ​Harker,​ ​what​ ​three​ ​things​ ​we​ ​should​ ​be​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lookout​ ​for​ ​when trying​ ​to​ ​detect​ ​created​ ​controversies?

1) Examine motive of the parties involved 2) Be on the lookout for the absence of alternatives 3) Are they engaged w public audiences only

What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​4​ ​hypotheses​ ​about​ ​ghost​ ​experiences​ ​that​ ​Schick​ ​and​ ​Vaughn​ ​talk about?

1) Ghost experiences are caused by ghosts, disembodied 2) Ghost experiences are caused by sounds or images stores in inanimate objects 3) Ghosts experiences are the result of sleep paralysis 4) ghost experiences are the result of physical, scientifically respectable environmental features impacting senses and brains

To​ ​what​ ​degree​ ​are​ ​these​ ​3​ ​signs​ ​present​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Intelligent​ ​Design​ ​movement?

1) Harker and phil 2021 yes, there is evidence - dover trail 2) Harker and phil 2021 yes, positive account, but its not very developed 3) Massive PR linked to Intelligent Design (idk what this means but thats what my notes say) Harker gives ID 2 and half stars because the 2nd one is least developed

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​issues/questions​ ​confronting​ ​each​ ​of​ ​these​ ​hypotheses?

1) How do we see them? why/how can they wear clothes? How does the mind/physical body connection work? 2) editing? what is mechanism of recording? 3) some ghost experiences happen in day, multiple witnesses, people go to same place, selective memory. 4) acoustics, temperature, magnetic field, chemical imbalance in an area.

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hypotheses​ ​we​ ​discussed​ ​about​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​of​ ​psychics​ ​to communicate​ ​with​ ​the​ ​dead?

1) Psychics really are receiving information from the dead 2) The psychic is reading your mind using telepathy 3) Psychics are 'cold reading' their subjects 4) Psychics are getting information about their subjects ahead of time

​What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​argument​ ​we​ ​discussed​ ​in​ ​class​ ​for​ ​thinking​ ​that​ ​AI++​ ​will​ ​happen?

1) There will be AI 2) If there is AI, there will be AI+ 3) If there is AI+ there will be AI++ .:/there will be AI++

According​ ​to​ ​Shermer,​ ​what​ ​strategies​ ​do​ ​defenders​ ​of​ ​conspiracy​ ​theories​ ​often use​ ​when​ ​defending​ ​those​ ​theories?​ ​ ​(How​ ​does​ ​the​ ​specific​ ​example​ ​of​ ​the temperature​ ​at​ ​which​ ​jet​ ​fuel​ ​burn​ ​and​ ​steel​ ​melt​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​this​ ​strategy?)

1. "connecting dots" with no real support 2. make themselves seem powerful and like they know what their talking about 3. lots of elements 4. conspiracy is alot of people

What​ ​did​ ​we​ ​say​ ​in​ ​defense​ ​of​ ​each​ ​of​ ​the​ ​premises​ ​of​ ​this​ ​argument?​ ​ ​(​What​ ​is Deep​ ​Blue?​ ​ ​Alpha​ ​Go?​ ​ ​Watson?)

1st premise- Deep blue - chess, Watson - jeopardy, Alpha go - beats world GO grand master (super chess) -talked about how we can update the hardware

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​possible​ ​interpretations​ ​of​ ​the​ ​claim​ ​that​ ​we​ ​use​ ​only​ ​10% of​ ​our​ ​brain​ ​discussed​ ​in​ ​class?

90% of the brain isnt doing anything cognitively, 90% of the brain isnt active, in any sense Only 10% of the brains neurons are doign anything Conscious access is limited

How​ ​does​ ​this​ ​thought​ ​experiment​ ​suggest​ ​that​ ​we​ ​should​ ​be​ ​afraid​ ​of​ ​AI+​ ​that has​ ​neutral​ ​intentions​ ​towards​ ​us?

AI+ has neutral notions for us but we should still be scared, because even if they dont want to hurt us they still can by taken over the economy

What​ ​is​ ​paperclip​ ​maximize​ ​thought​ ​experiment?

AI+ paperclip maker- meant to show you that we should be scared of AI++ and AI+ because it isnt trying to hurt us but in the task of doing the paperclips, they take over paperclip economy..

What​ ​are​ ​AI,​ ​AI+,​ ​and​ ​AI++?

AI- artificial intelligence of human level AI+ - artificial intelligence greater than human level AI++ - artificial intelligence that far exceeds human level

What​ ​is​ ​cold​ ​reading?

Asking open ended questions so the subject can fill in the blanks "finding things out" about a person with no prior knowledge

What​ ​is​ ​sleep​ ​paralysis?

Body has a dream while you are not asleep and you cannot move.

What​ ​is​ ​a​ ​probability​ ​wave?

Describes a particle's position via a bunch of probabilities (and not in terms of its 'actual' location) -doesn't say a particle is here and a particle is there, it just says the probability that it will be in some given area.

What​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​ghost​ ​experiences​ ​could​ ​this​ ​hypothesis​ ​explain?

Disembodied voices, objects suddenly move? -what it would be like interacting with these beings

What​ ​does​ ​this​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​notion​ ​of​ ​"parallel​ ​universes"​ ​and​ ​Fiona Broome's​ ​account​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Mandela​ ​Effect?

Explanation of where the parallel universes are from, how they are formed. This is where they come from when we seem to remember something from a different universe - correctly remembering something in a different universe. ex) luke, I am your father but really no, i am your father she likes this: -consistent with science -defended by smart people -many realities created but have same basic level.

What​ ​is​ ​a​ ​space-time​ ​worm?

External time & Personal time are lined up

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​strategies​ ​that​ ​he​ ​discusses​ ​(and​ ​that​ ​we​ ​discussed)​ ​that can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​create​ ​controversies​ ​where​ ​there​ ​are​ ​none?​ ​ ​(How​ ​do​ ​some​ ​of these​ ​strategies​ ​tie​ ​into,​ ​and​ ​take​ ​advantage​ ​of,​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​features​ ​of​ ​science itself?)

Get a real expert to defend the opposing position, tie the issue to something everyday people care about, videos, target gullible people, find ways to complain/slander your opinion, say people are not openminded ex) vaccines and autism

​What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​grandfather​ ​paradox?

Going back in time to kill your grandfathers so that you wouldnt be born, but then you wouldn't be able to go back in time and kill your grandfather.

Who​ ​is​ ​Derren​ ​Brown​ ​and​ ​how​ ​is​ ​the​ ​video​ ​of​ ​him​ ​cold-reading​ ​unsuspecting subjects​ ​relevant​ ​to​ ​the​ ​topics​ ​we've​ ​been​ ​discussing?

He had little/no training in what he did and he made peope believe stuff that he didnt really hear.

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​problems​ ​with​ ​Broome's​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Many​ ​Worlds Interpretation?

How can i travel from one universe to another? Why dont you run 'other yous' when you travel? How do you get back? seems ad hoc.

​According​ ​to​ ​Lewis,​ ​what​ ​is​ ​guaranteed​ ​to​ ​happen​ ​when​ ​you​ ​travel​ ​back​ ​in​ ​time and​ ​try​ ​to​ ​kill​ ​your​ ​grandfather​ ​before​ ​he​ ​met​ ​your​ ​grandmother?​ ​ ​(What​ ​does​ ​this have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​his​ ​assumption​ ​of​ ​"Eternalism"?)

If eternalism is true, then my failure to kill GPA in the past is already real its just that we dont know it because, if its already real then its already happened, if we go back, the we have already failed and we dont realize it

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​Shermer's​ ​tricks​ ​for​ ​successful​ ​cold​ ​reading?

May be a short answer(have them do most of the talking) - set the mood,dim the lights,team effort, stick to themes

​Are​ ​only​ ​certain​ ​groups​ ​of​ ​people​ ​drawn​ ​to​ ​conspiracy​ ​theories?

No, everybody is

What​ ​is​ ​"Eternalism"?

Past, present, future are equally real -David Lewis -not a contradiction in time travel

How​ ​are​ ​the​ ​photos​ ​we​ ​discussed​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​evidence​ ​for​ ​the existence​ ​of​ ​time​ ​travel?

Phones when we didnt have phones

How​ ​was​ ​it​ ​originally​ ​discovered?

Scientists work in labs would feel strangely, waves like patterns in the coffee mugs,

What​ ​is​ ​infrasound?

Sound that is below threshold of conscious audition but can affect our bodies

What​ ​does​ ​Harker​ ​mean​ ​by​ ​a​ ​created​ ​(or​ ​manufactured)​ ​controversy?

Things are presented to the public, as if there is a genuine substantial scientific disagreement about some topic when there isnt.

​Do​ ​any​ ​countries​ ​make​ ​use​ ​of​ ​"psychic​ ​detectives"​ ​to​ ​solve​ ​crimes?

US

​What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​potential​ ​issues​ ​with​ ​this​ ​hypothesis?

Why dont we hear voices all the time why dont we (3d) find any 2d