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An examination of the question: can skeptics be skeptical of skepticism?

John Jackson © 2008

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vbloke © 2006

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Western (Zodiacal) astrology relies on the position of the Sun, Moon and planets at the time of your birth to determine your personality. Each planet has a particular “personality” and affects different aspects of your personality.

How this happens is never really explained, why it kicks in at the time of your birth instead of the time of conception is also never really explained either. Is there something in the womb that shields you from the astrological effects?

If it is a “force” that emanates from the astronomical bodies that effects you, then it is an entirely new force unknown to science. We only have four forces to work with – gravity, electromagnetic , the strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force. The last two only work at atomic levels (they keep atoms held together and can only be felt if you’re about the size of an atom), so they can’t be any use. (more…)

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Open Mind: A mind open to new ideas, lacking in prejudice, not dogmatic.

John Jackson © 2004.

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It is very common for people who are putting forward a claim to say something like, “you must consider this with an open mind“, or if their claim is rejected they will say something like, “well of course you don’t believe it, you’re closed-minded“.

There are many ways that this ‘appeal to open mindedness’ manifests itself, so let’s have a look at why it is not usually a valid argument: (more…)

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A look at the role and meaning of spiritualist meetings.

Emma-Louise Rhodes © 2008.

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For those who do not necessarily want to attend a Spiritualist church, there is, in most towns, a chance to go to a psychic evening, where mediums will attempt to bring back the dead for as little as £3.50 a head admission.

Such occasions typically take place in a ‘hall for hire’ and are advertised in the local press and via posters and handbills as ‘An Evening of Clairvoyance’. There is generally no reference to religion or faith of any kind, and usually the only other thing that accompanies the title is the organisation who has arranged it and name of the medium or mediums present. (more…)

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Event: Dr Christine Mohr: Magical Beliefs and the Two Cerebral Hemispheres

Title: Dr Christine Mohr: Magical Beliefs and the Two Cerebral Hemispheres

When: 09.12.2008 18.00 h – 19.30 h

Where: Goldsmiths, University of London – London

Category: Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit Lectures

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John Jackson © UK-Skeptics

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Physical mediumship is about connecting to the spirit world. The medium channels ethereal energy and focuses it so that it can influence physical objects. The spirits manifest themselves through the medium’s body, often producing ectoplasm as they do so.

Séances are either held in the dark or in a very dim red light. For some reason, spirits are averse to white light or conditions that allow participants in the séance any chance of normal vision.

Many physical manifestations occur. They may be genuine, but of course there may also be more earthly explanations for the phenomena produced. Here we will consider some of these phenomena and give some possible explanations for them: (more…)

Only a couple of weeks ago, stem cell research hit the headlines when a 30-year-old Spanish woman became the first person to have a transplanted organ (trachea) that had been grown from her own stem cells. It is an example of the potential that stem cell technology has for the future of medicine: it offers not only the hope of rejection-free transplants, but also cures for genetic diseases too.

Stem-cell treatments are in the news again this week. However, it’s for the wrong reasons this time. (more…)

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Do irrational beliefs lead to harm?

John Jackson © UK-Skeptics

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What’s the harm? There cannot be one single skeptic who has engaged in debate about ‘weird beliefs’ who has not had this question thrown at them!

It can seem like a very pertinent question and it can be surprisingly difficult to answer; particularly when you’re dealing with a single case like someone’s mother who believes in angels: “If she believes and it brings her comfort, what’s the harm?” (more…)

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John Jackson © UK-Skeptics

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This fallacy is committed when the natural fluctuations around an average position are not taken into account when providing explanations of events.

Regression or “regression to the mean (or average)” refers to the tendency of a variable characteristic to move away from extreme values towards the average value.

The weather is a good example of this tendency. Occasionally in the UK we get some very nice weather. It is, however, far from average and soon returns to its normal gloomy self. Likewise with excessive rain. We occasionally get excessive rainfall, but it soon returns to its normal value. Most of the time the weather is average and these unusual occurrences are fluctuations or deviations around the average. We get peaks and troughs but things always return back to their normal or average values. (more…)

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London Skeptics in the Pub

Monday 8th December 2008

The Penderel’s Oak, Holborn. A £2 donation is requested to cover the guest speaker’s travelling expenses and sundries. All are welcome. Turn up at any time during the evening. The room is open for food and drink from about 5.30pm and talks start at 7pm. (more…)