Monday, August 02, 2010
Superstition
Stevie Wonder playing Sesame Street in 1973.
"When you believe in things
You don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition aint' the way."
Superstitions often become self-fulfilling prophecies. For instance, If you expect Friday the 13th to be unlucky, you’ll find evidence to support that. On that day, you'll look harder for evidence which supports your irrational belief. If you believe that chain-letters, be they the old-fashioned snail-mail versions or the much more common e-mail versions around today actually work, you'll look for evidence that supports that belief as well.
A superstition is simply:
1 : a - a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
b - an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
As a skeptically oriented blog, these terms matter to me. I don't think we should be making any decisions in our life based on ignorance, fear, unfounded trust, lies or irrationality. This includes all aspects of our life, even cherished ones and/or ones we've held for a long time or been taught by those we trust. Unfortunately, people who think this seem to be in the minority. This is and always has been a dangerous way to go about creating a society we can all live happily in together.
I don't believe that ignorance is bliss. To quote Edmund Way Teale:
"It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good, as it is not to care how you got your money as long as you have it."
With that said, anybody got a favorite version of this song? Hard to beat the original by Stevie Wonder but the Stevie Ray Vaughan studio version is amazing as well. Then there's the live version on Live Alive... stunning.
All for now!
"When you believe in things
You don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition aint' the way."
Superstitions often become self-fulfilling prophecies. For instance, If you expect Friday the 13th to be unlucky, you’ll find evidence to support that. On that day, you'll look harder for evidence which supports your irrational belief. If you believe that chain-letters, be they the old-fashioned snail-mail versions or the much more common e-mail versions around today actually work, you'll look for evidence that supports that belief as well.
A superstition is simply:
1 : a - a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
b - an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
As a skeptically oriented blog, these terms matter to me. I don't think we should be making any decisions in our life based on ignorance, fear, unfounded trust, lies or irrationality. This includes all aspects of our life, even cherished ones and/or ones we've held for a long time or been taught by those we trust. Unfortunately, people who think this seem to be in the minority. This is and always has been a dangerous way to go about creating a society we can all live happily in together.
I don't believe that ignorance is bliss. To quote Edmund Way Teale:
"It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good, as it is not to care how you got your money as long as you have it."
With that said, anybody got a favorite version of this song? Hard to beat the original by Stevie Wonder but the Stevie Ray Vaughan studio version is amazing as well. Then there's the live version on Live Alive... stunning.
All for now!
Comments:
<< Home
Love that song!
I have, on more than one occasion, referred to myself as a Superstitious Atheist. Heh.
I have, on more than one occasion, referred to myself as a Superstitious Atheist. Heh.
# posted by 
: 3:29 PM
: 3:29 PM
That is probably the best definition of global warming I have heard so far. Thanks!
# posted by : 12:21 AM
: 12:21 AM
The question for Brian then is this: What would constitute in your mind evidence for global warming?
The broad consensus of the professionals in the field of climatology mean nothing to you.
Hundreds of studies in peer reviewed scientific journals mean nothing to you.
Anecdotal evidence means nothing to you.
Evidence of "scientists" who don't accept the findings of real scientists being in the pay of oil companies and others with vested interests mean nothing to you.
It's rather obvious that no amount of evidence would be enough for you. That doesn't make you a skeptic. That makes you a denialist. Just like those who deny the holocaust or evolution despite mountains of evidence.
Hardly impressive.
Post a Comment
The broad consensus of the professionals in the field of climatology mean nothing to you.
Hundreds of studies in peer reviewed scientific journals mean nothing to you.
Anecdotal evidence means nothing to you.
Evidence of "scientists" who don't accept the findings of real scientists being in the pay of oil companies and others with vested interests mean nothing to you.
It's rather obvious that no amount of evidence would be enough for you. That doesn't make you a skeptic. That makes you a denialist. Just like those who deny the holocaust or evolution despite mountains of evidence.
Hardly impressive.
<< Home
