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Post #1 : Red Flag - Appeal to Authority

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Post #1 : Red Flag - Appeal to Authority

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Definition:
An appeal to authority is when someone tries to support their argument by quoting an expert, instead of giving solid reasons or evidence. This is a mistake because just because someone is an expert doesn't mean everything they claim is true.

Connection:
In this image, Jennifer Aniston, whom which is a celebrity, is promoting Smartwater. This is an example of appeal to authority because people might believe the product works/is better than other brands of water just because she’s famous. But being famous doesn’t mean the product is proven to work. For example, a celebrity chef might promote a weight loss pill. While they’re great at cooking, they’re not a health expert, so their recommendation doesn’t prove the product works. This shows how critical thinking is needed to question claims. The celebrity’s fame doesn’t make the product better. There’s no proof that this water is better than other brands. It’s just an anecdote, based on the celebrity’s name.

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Post #2: Red Flag - Confusion of Correlation with Causation

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Post #2: Red Flag - Confusion of Correlation with Causation

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Definition:
Confusing correlation with causation happens when people think that just because two things happen at the same time, one must be causing the other. But just because two things are related doesn't mean one is causing the other.

Connection:
In this image, we see that ice cream and sunburns both go up in the summer. This doesn't mean that buying ice cream causes sunburns. The real cause of sunburns is being in the sun too long. Ice cream sales and sunburns just happen to increase at the same time because it's hotter in summer. This is an example of confusing correlation with causation, where people wrongly assume one thing causes the other just because they happen together. This is also an example of confirmation bias, where people notice the connection and believe it without considering other possible causes.

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Definition:
Proof by verbosity is when someone tries to convince you something is true just by talking a lot. They use many words and details to make their point, hoping you’ll believe them because they sound knowledgeable, but they don’t actually provide real evidence.

Connection:

Kamala Harris, former US Vice President, sometimes uses proof by verbosity in her speeches. She often talks in a lot of detail about policies like healthcare or climate change. While it sounds convincing, sometimes her long answers don’t give clear proof or solid facts to back up her claims. For example, when answering tough questions during debates, she can give long explanations that don’t always directly address the problem, making it seem like she knows what she’s talking about but without offering clear solutions. This is a good example of proof by verbosity, where someone uses a lot of words to try and convince you, even if they don’t provide real proof or a direct answer to a question but play their way around it. It’s also an example of skepticism, where the audience should question whether the long indirect answers actually provide real evidence or just a lot of talk.

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Assignment 2 GNED-1515-AAA Sajad Mirpour

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Assignment 2 GNED-1515-AAA Sajad Mirpour

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Post #5: Red Flag - Suppression by Authorities

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Post #5: Red Flag - Suppression by Authorities

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Definition:
Suppression by authorities happens when those in power stop or hide information to keep people from knowing the truth. This is often done to maintain control or protect certain interests, and it prevents people from making informed decisions.

Connection:

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, became famous for releasing secret government documents. These documents showed the truth about wars and diplomatic issues. The U.S. government tried to stop him from sharing this information because they didn’t want the public to know certain things. Assange faced legal actions and had to hide in an embassy to avoid being arrested. This is an example of barriers to critical thinking, where people are prevented from seeing the whole truth because the government doesn't want the public to question their actions or beliefs, creating a distorted view of truth.

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Post #6: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Deliberately Creates Mystery

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Post #6: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Deliberately Creates Mystery

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Definition:
Deliberately creating mystery refers to when someone makes an idea or concept seem more complex, confusing, or mysterious than it really is, often to make it sound more interesting or believable. This is a common tactic used in pseudoscience to distract from the lack of real evidence.

Connection:
The Loch Ness Monster is a good example of creating mystery on purpose. For years, people have said they saw a strange creature in Loch Ness, Scotland, but there’s no real proof it exists. Instead of showing clear evidence, people who talk about the Loch Ness Monster focus on blurry pictures and unclear sightings, making the creature seem more mysterious and interesting. This keeps the mystery alive, even though there’s no solid proof that it’s real. This is an example of debunking, where we need to challenge the myths and stories about the Loch Ness Monster by looking for clear, factual evidence to prove or disprove its existence.

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Post #7: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Does Not Progress

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Post #7: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Does Not Progress

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Definition:
Does not progress refers to when a belief or idea doesn’t change or improve, even when new evidence comes to light. Unlike science, which evolves and adapts with new information, pseudoscience stays stuck on old, disproven ideas without growing or advancing.

Connection:
A perfect example of this is Astrology. Even though scientific studies have shown no connection between zodiac signs and personality traits or events in people's lives, astrology still remains popular. It hasn't changed or improved its methods despite modern science proving it's not accurate. This is an example of lack of practice, where astrology fails to improve or adapt its methods over time, despite the availability of new scientific evidence.

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Post #3: Red Flags - Ideological Support 

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Post #3: Red Flags - Ideological Support 

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Definition:
Ideological support happens when people believe something is true just because it fits with their own beliefs, rather than because there is solid evidence. They support ideas that align with their views, even if those ideas aren’t proven.

Connection:

Terrence Howard, the actor in this image, has talked openly about his belief in Scientology and how it’s helped him in his life. Many of his fans might start supporting Scientology just because Howard does, not because there's solid proof it works. This is an example of ideological support, where people follow an idea because a celebrity they admire believes in it, instead of looking at the facts or evidence behind it. Especially since some of his statements could never be proven mathematically, like 1 x 1 = 2. This is also an example of demonstrable validity, where there is no clear evidence or measurable proof to support the claim that Scientology has the benefits Howard describes.

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Post #9: Reasons for belief - Simplicity

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Post #9: Reasons for belief - Simplicity

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Definition:
Simplicity is when people believe that simple answers are more likely to be true, even if they’re not. People like easy to understand answers, but this can make them ignore more complicated truths.

Connection:

Imagine someone thinking that losing weight is just about "eating less and moving more" and believing that’s all they need to do. It sounds simple and easy, but the truth is, losing weight is more complicated and involves things like metabolism, mental health, and habits. This is an example of simplicity, where the person likes the simple answer because it’s easy to understand, but it doesn’t explain everything.

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Post #8: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Convinces by Faith and Belief (in spite of evidence)

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Post #8: Pseudoscience Watchlist - Convinces by Faith and Belief (in spite of evidence)

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Definition:
Being convinced by faith and belief means sticking to an idea even when there’s proof that it’s not true. People often ignore facts because they strongly believe in something, trusting their beliefs over what the evidence shows.

Connection:
People who believe in the Flat Earth Theory ignore facts like satellite pictures, science, and how ships disappear over the horizon. They keep believing the Earth is flat because it fits what they want to believe, even though there’s solid proof the Earth is round. This is an example of distorted view of truth, where people adapt and stand by their beliefs and ignore overwhelming evidence on the opposing side, distorting the reality of the situation.

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Post #11 : Reasons for Belief - Agenticity

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Post #11 : Reasons for Belief - Agenticity

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Definition:
Agenticity is when people believe that things happen for a reason, caused by an intentional force or person, even when they’re just random events. It’s the tendency to see patterns and assume there’s a purpose behind them, even when it’s just chance.

Connection:

An example of agenticity can include very simple things like being stuck in traffic and thinking it’s a sign from the universe that you need to slow down or that something important is about to happen. This is an example of agenticity, where you believe there’s a reason behind being delayed, even though it’s just because of roadwork or busy traffic. You might think the delay is keeping you from something bad, such as avoiding a possible accident in the future, and that something is protecting you. This is also an example of lack of practice, where instead of questioning the delay, you rely on a personal belief or pattern that may not be based on facts or reasoning, because it hasn’t been tested or thought through critically.

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Definition:
Ideology is when people believe in a certain set of ideas and use those ideas to understand everything around them. It can make them ignore or reject information that doesn’t match their beliefs, even if it’s true.

Connection:

Imagine someone only watches news that matches their personal beliefs, like only watching a news channel that supports their political views. This is an example of recognizing bias, where they ignore news from other sources or points of view because it doesn’t fit with what they already believe. They might dismiss other facts or opinions, even if they’re true, just because it doesn’t match their ideology.

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Post #12 : Reasons for Belief - Patternicity

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Post #12 : Reasons for Belief - Patternicity

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Definition:
Patternicity is when people think they see patterns in things that are actually random. They believe things are connected or have meaning, even if they don’t. It’s when the mind tries to find order in things that don’t actually have any.

Connection:
Imagine looking at the clouds or stars and thinking you see shapes, like a face or a figure. This is an example of define claim, where your brain tries to create a meaning or claim based on random things. Even though the clouds or stars don’t really look like those shapes, your mind makes them seem familiar. This shows how define claim works by assigning false significance to things that don’t actually have any.