As discussed in The Hopeful Mindset the independent mindset is based on an erroneous assumption about the nature of existence. It contends that we are independently existing individuals. This contention flies in the face of evidence supporting the current scientific understanding of existence which sees all things existing interdependently.
Given the faulty assumption of the independent worldview it is not surprising that there are a multitude of false beliefs put forth under its assumption. There are many kinds of dubious beliefs swirling around under the sway of the independent mindset such as pseudoscientific theories, paranormal events, conspiratorial beliefs, Holocaust denial, and UFO abductions. The independent mindset is like a meat factory producing these various flavours of baloney. They may taste slightly different from one another but they are all just baloney.
These baloney beliefs are, thanks to technology, supported and disseminated widely. So ubiquitous are such ideas today that they pose a constant challenge to our individual and collective rationality.
I am beginning to think that the most important skill we can develop today is the ability to distinguish that which is true from mistaken beliefs, lies, and illusions. We need to be able to separate facts from baloney.
The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what’s true. —CARL SAGAN
There are times when it can be difficult to separate scientific fact from speculation. An example is the plethora of truth claims put forth these days exploiting the weirdness of quantum physics to prop up dubious theories. Type “quantum” into an Amazon search field and you get results like the following:
- The Quantum Consciousness: Exploring the Mind Beyond the Physical
- Quantum Mysticism: Where Science Meets Spirituality
- Quantum Body: The New Science of Living a Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life
And then there are the modern day spiritual teachers who specialize in interpreting ancient mystical traditions in ways that appeal to western ears. I find these teachings difficult to parse as there is much that may be true of existence interspersed with questionable inferences.
In the end we are faced with the challenge of sorting through mounds of information for reliable facts. As daunting as it may seem it is important that we take on the task because, as Michael Shermer, author and editor of Skeptic magazine, states in his latest book, Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters, “False beliefs have consequences.”.
Fortunately, he suggests some criteria we can apply to claims that are helpful in detecting baloney.
The Baloney Detection Kit (Key Principles)
Michael Shermer has outlined several questions to ask when evaluating a claim by filtering out misinformation:
– Evidence Quality: How reliable is the source of the claim? Does it rely on anecdotes or hard data?
– Confirmation Bias: Are the proponents of the claim only looking for evidence that supports it, while ignoring contrary evidence?
– Alternative Explanations: Have other, more plausible explanations for the phenomenon been considered?
– Evidence Falsifiability: Can the claim be proven wrong? If not, it is not scientific.
– Occam’s Razor: Does the explanation require more assumptions, or is it the simplest one?
– Correlation vs. Causation: Does the claim confuse correlation with causation?
– Evidence Scale: Does the extraordinary nature of the claim require extraordinary evidence?
Carl Sagan also created a Baloney Detection Kit shown below.
A problem I recognize in applying criteria like these is that it is time consuming in a world that places extraordinary demands on our time. Perhaps a consolation is the fact that the more often we take time to really look at claims in this way the more automatic it becomes and the quicker it is to do it. It becomes more and more reflexive.
Perhaps by recognizing the many ways in which the independent mindset supports the production of baloney we will come to realize, by comparison, the relatively baloney free potential of the science-supported interdependent Hopeful Mindset.