Non-Core: Textbook: Critical Thinking: "Magic in the Classroom: Using Extraordinary Claims to Teach Critical Thinking"

Magic in the Classroom: Using Extraordinary Claims to Teach Critical Thinking

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In the current age of the Internet, information is easily accessible. Unfortunately, misinformation is just as easily accessed. The trouble then comes to discerning quality information from sources of untruths. If one may be permitted to be a little imaginative as opposed to realistic, it is as if the Prince of Lies has come to the information age and is undeterred.  

The Bible is a powerful long book that people would do well to study for a variety of reasons. Despite this, people often process only so far and then stop, otherwise known as "good enough stopping." Sadly, people choose to stop too soon, sometimes. For example, the Bible says in Exodus 22:18 that you should "Suffer not a witch to live." Subsequently, I have heard religious minded people refuse to allow their children to watch "Harry Potter" because it glorifies witchcraft. Somewhat ironically, the type of magic R.K. Rowling decided to make the least reliable is divination. It is, in fact, divination that the Bible warns people to avoid. 

Enter a man by the name of James Randi. Spiritualists, mediums, diviners, astrologers, psychics, faith-healers, etc.. all of these are James Randi's chosen for for the simple reason that they are charlatans defrauding James Randi knows enough about how these quacks work to have chosen the path of deception and personal enrichment. He has, however, chosen a higher path in service to truths as he can see them. He has built a foundation devoted to debunking those who would exploit others. While one might not appreciate all consequents his skepticism has let him to accept, his work to oppose the connivers of the world deserves appreciation.

As his goal is to educate, at least in terms of skeptical thinking, and the internet is full of boondogglery we homeschooling parents might take it as important to educate our kids on the topic of how to keep themselves from being exploited by those pandering falsehoods to achieve their own aims. To this end, on this date, the James Randi Educational Foundation has produced and is freely distributing an eBook entitled "Magic in the Classroom: Using Extraordinary Claims to Teach Critical Thinking."

This eBook serves up 154 pages of critical thinking education. What follows here is an excerpt of their Introduction:

Introduction

 It’s New Year’s Day 2015, and I have just completed teaching a freshman seminar about “alternative medicine.” For their final project, my students invented new alternative treatments and produced websites that used the persuasive selling strategies that we see on established alt med sites all the time. They invented a wide variety of products, services, health regimens, diets, and modalities. And then they did what charlatans do--flogged their wares mercilessly (though always with the prominent caveat to the effect that their websites and other pitches were satirical).

It turns out they are scarily good mimics. After acquiring the appropriate certification at Thunderwood College (http://thunderwoodcollege.com/) (a diploma generating site established by Skeptoid (http://skeptoid.com/)’s Brian Dunning), they set to work establishing inspirational backstories, generating unqualified praise for themselves, and greenwashing absolutely everything. I made sure that nobody actually made any claims about specific diseases--I did not want another fake cancer cure to slip out onto the web--and the students soon became very adroit at generating meaningful-sounding health patter. My favorite example was a group whose product “enhanced the healing properties of water.” Another group promised that they would “stimulate your body’s natural healing processes” by beating you up and taking your money. (The glowing testimonials in their infomercial, delivered by satisfied customers who happened to be sporting black eyes and missing teeth, were hilarious.)

In order to pull this mimicry off, of course, the students not only had to analyze websites’ content, design, audiences’ expectations, persuasive tactics, and use of media, and but also had to adopt them for their own websites. I dare say that I have either inoculated these students to the most pernicious and dangerous types of alternative medicine or have unleashed an alternative medicine juggernaut that will bring the country to its knees. Either way, I’d rather students encounter these extraordinary claims in a classroom, where critical thinking is encouraged, than out on the mean streets. 

That’s what this book is about.

As I begin reading the book, it seems reasonable to believe that the book will live up to its promise. This is to be expected as the reputation of the James Randi Education Foundation is excellent. Also, it should be pointed out, that the book is distributed free for the noble purpose of educating young minds in the process of critical thinking. A faith healer might also produce a free booklet, but in this case they are hoping that you will attend one of their lectures and pay money for cures that don't cure anything.

Despite this, one of the logical fallacies to which the human mind remains vulnerable unless trained would be the genetic fallacy. This is a fallacy which says that a given bit of information must be false because of the source of the information. For example, if an alcoholic father were to warn a son about the dangers of alcoholism, that warning may not be unwise simply because the father is incapable of following it. Contrariwise, it is an equal catastrophe in the making to treat everything a source says as true.. as any number of people drawn into an exploited by various cults could attest.

My assessment of this eBook thus far would be as an excellence source of learning for one predisposed, as I am, to a reasonable eclectic style of homeschooling. That is to say, who takes resources available as they appear.