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No Nonsense

Anti-pseudoscience, anti-woo, pro science, pro critical thinking, no conspiracy theories, no spin. Count the logical fallacies. No Nonsense!

Members: 342
Latest Activity: on Sunday

"Keep an open mind – but not so open that your brain falls out" -unknown

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan

"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." -- Christopher Hitchens

What is a logical fallacy? All arguments have the same basic structure: A therefore B. They begin with one or more premises (A), which is a fact or assumption upon which the argument is based. They then apply a logical principle (therefore) to arrive at a conclusion (B). An example of a logical principle is that of equivalence. For example, if you begin with the premises that A=B and B=C, you can apply the logical principle of equivalence to conclude that A=C. A logical fallacy is a false or incorrect logical principle. An argument that is based upon a logical fallacy is therefore not valid. It is important to note that if the logic of an argument is valid then the conclusion must also be valid, which means that if the premises are all true then the conclusion must also be true. Valid logic applied to one or more false premises, however, leads to an invalid argument. Also, if an argument is not valid the conclusion may, by chance, still be true. For a more thorough discussion of logical fallacies and how to structure a logical argument, see the New England Skeptical Society's article, How To Argue.

Top 20 Logical Fallacies (in alphabetical order) taken from -

The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe

The New England Skeptical Society The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe Science-Based Medicine
The James Randi Educational Foundation
Propaganda
snopes.com
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Simon Singh and his fight to mend British libel laws
Professor Richard Wiseman
PZ Myers' Pharyngula
Dr. Phil Plait and Bad Astronomy
Skeptic Blog
Michael Shermer's Baloney Detection Kit
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan
The Skeptics' Dictionary
List of cognitive biases
Don Watson - Weasel Words
QuackWatch
A List of Fallacious Arguments

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"No skeptic, to my knowledge, ever made a major scientific discovery or advanced the welfare of others."

-- Deepak Chopra (yes, he actually said that)

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but That's funny..." -Isaac Asimov



The scientific world view is full of awe and wonder. Understanding how truly awesome the universe is – in its elegant complexity, its staggering beauty, and the many intricate systems of which it is comprised – gives a profound feeling of connectedness and sparks the imagination. And it has the advantage of being real. -Steven Novella



The glory which is built upon a lie soon becomes a most unpleasant incumbrance. How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again.
— Mark Twain

Discussion Forum

Cheating with Science

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on Sunday. 4 Replies

Information Technology amplifies irrational group behavior

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by Joan Denoo Apr 13. 3 Replies

6 criteria of conspiratorial thinking

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by Humble Pie Mar 24. 3 Replies

Political discourse in US - fundamentally fallacious

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by James M. Martin Mar 23. 1 Reply

Challenging lies doesn't work

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by Joseph P Jan 25. 1 Reply

Apocalypse anxiety

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by GOD'aye Jan 7. 3 Replies

A Visual Study Guide To Cognitive Biases

Started by Little Name Atheist. Last reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner Sep 19, 2012. 5 Replies

Psychic Power-NOT

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by David Layton Apr 17, 2012. 5 Replies

Magical thinking has benefits?

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner. Last reply by Loren Miller Mar 22, 2012. 1 Reply

The Awesome Power of Fractal Energy Mandalas

Started by Dallas the Phallus. Last reply by Sarah Walton Mar 4, 2012. 11 Replies

Video "Science is Real"

Started by Ruth Anthony-Gardner Feb 10, 2012. 0 Replies

How the Mind Counteracts Offensive Ideas

Started by Dallas the Phallus. Last reply by Steph S. Aug 21, 2011. 6 Replies

Self-help author convicted of negligent homicide

Started by Dallas the Phallus. Last reply by Mike K. Jun 23, 2011. 5 Replies

Cognitive Biases and Handedness

Started by Dallas the Phallus Mar 18, 2011. 0 Replies

DNA Perfection: Unleash Your Genetic Potential NOW!

Started by Dallas the Phallus. Last reply by godfree inseaofred Dec 4, 2010. 3 Replies

Comment Wall

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Comment by Christopher on September 7, 2010 at 10:14am
Sacha,
It had to happen eventually, I suppose, because I've been reading PZ's blog daily for about a year or two now, and I kept wondering when he would post something I disagreed with. Well, he finally did. I had intended to reply on his blog, but after scolling down the comments to comment number 56 by Doctorlogic, I found someone had posted pretty much exactly what I would have posted, so I didn't bother. I really couldn't beleive that screed from Sunsara Taylor which PZ quoted in his post. The first couple of paragraphs are fine, but then she descends into nutjob, idealist rantings like a fundamentalist quoting the Left Wing Fringe Bible. She seems about as rational as Donald Wildmon.
Comment by Ann on September 7, 2010 at 3:41am
Daniel, that is a good idea. According to "like preventing like" principle it would prevent the coming of further "god's children".
Comment by Sentient Biped on September 6, 2010 at 10:35pm
Just have him made into homeopathic birth control remedies.
Comment by sacha on September 6, 2010 at 4:41pm
regarding sacha being the next virgin Mary:

I don't even want real children and having "god's" child has to be the worst I can imagine. I'd sell him to the devil.
Comment by sacha on September 6, 2010 at 4:38pm
Comment by Christopher on September 6, 2010 at 5:38am
"It requires only two things to win credit for a miracle: a mountebank and a number of silly women." Marquis de Sade
Comment by Christopher on September 6, 2010 at 5:22am
Daniel,
where did you find that Hole In The Head vid? That was too fucking painful to watch. I need vids like that like I need a hole in my fucking... well, you get the point
Comment by Christopher on September 6, 2010 at 5:19am
Daniel,

Sacha could be the next virgin mary?
It would seem the kooks even have branch offices, and have become as much of a pain in the ass in Japan, as they have in the west
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/09/when_western_woo_invades_...
Comment by Sentient Biped on September 6, 2010 at 3:29am
Sacha, be careful with this product. I could not find whether it is used orally or vaginally. Improper placement could have the opposite effect and render the user pregnant without benefit of intercourse.
Comment by sacha on September 6, 2010 at 2:48am
 

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