The Fine Art of Baloney Detection

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The Fine Art of Baloney Detection[1] is an essay by Carl Sagan in his seminal work against pseudoscience, The Demon-Haunted World.

In this essay, he gives advice for devising conclusions, as well as advice for avoiding logical and rhetorical fallacies. Together, the set of warning signs for common fallacies constitutes what Sagan very politely calls a "Baloney Detection Kit." Sagan categorizes the logical and rhetorical fallacies as below. Here is given the type of fallacy, a definition of each, and an example from the current internet.

Using the detection kit[edit]

Sagan makes a few suggestions about the "tools" a skeptic should keep ready in their Baloney Detection Kit. These are not merely measures to identify bad arguments, but constructive ideas about how to come up with better alternatives:

  • Seek independent confirmation of alleged facts.
  • Encourage an open debate about the issue and the available evidence.
  • "In science, there are no authorities. At most, there are experts."
  • Come up with a variety of competing hypotheses explaining a given outcome. Considering many different explanations will lower the risk of confirmation bias.
  • Don't get too attached to your own ideas, lest you get reluctant to reject them even in the face of evidence to the contrary.
  • Quantify whenever possible, allowing for easier comparisons between hypotheses' relative explanatory power.
  • Every step in an argument must be logically sound; a single weak link can doom the entire chain.
  • When the evidence is inconclusive, use Occam's Razor to discriminate between hypotheses.
  • Pay attention to falsifiability. Science does not concern itself with unfalsifiable propositions.

What to look out for[edit]


Type of fallacy

Definition

Example

Ad hominem

An ad hominem argument attacks the messenger, not the message itself.

"The secular geologists can't hear or see the message [about creationism] because of their academic indoctrination in anti-Biblical, naturalistic, uniformitarian assumptions. The reason that most Christian geologists can't see it is the same, plus the fact that they have believed the scientific establishment more than the Bible that they claim to believe is the inspired, inerrant Word of God."[2] This doesn't say anything about the argument of creationism, but rather the scientists.

Argument from authority

This type of argument relies on the identity of an authority rather than the components of the argument itself.

"Lastly, young earth creationists believe that the Book of Genesis is historical in nature and that Bible exegesis warrants a six-day creation with each day being 24 hours."[3] The argument is that the Bible is the Word of God, so everything in it must be true by definition.

Argument from adverse consequences

Saying that because the implications of a statement being true would create negative results, it must not be true.

"If we allow people to believe the evolutionist doctrine that they are nothing but animals, human civilization will be DESTROYED in a tidal wave of immorality!"

Appeal to ignorance

If something is not known to be false, it must be true.

We refer the reader to the Answers in Genesis page on the non-constant speed of light.[4] It's interesting because the creationists who propose how the speed of light has changed have backed off from their claims, and now the website is claiming that a few scientific articles (like 2) make the possible claim for slight variations in the speed of light (much too small to explain the chronology problem), therefore it must have been different in the past, and therefore the whole speed of light is questionable and must be thrown out. Never mind the consequences if the speed of light changed from fast to slow; atoms and the energy of photons would be so messed up that the early creation earth would probably fry any young earth. Of course, the creationist just put a "time dilation field" around it, and everything is OK. Never mind that there is no evidence for it.

Special pleading

Stating a universal principle, then insisting that it doesn't apply to your assertions for some reason.

Everything MUST have a cause. Except God.

Begging the question/ assuming the answer

This occurs when a statement has an unproven premise. It is also called "circular reasoning" or "circular logic".

"A man from a primitive culture who sees an automobile might guess that it was powered by the wind or by an antelope hidden under the car, but when he opens up the hood and sees the engine he immediately realizes that it was designed."--Michael Behe[5] Most of Behe's arguments say, if it looks designed, it must be so. This assumes the answer to the question.

Observational selection

Looking at only positive evidence while ignoring the negative.

Remembering the instances where you predicted that it would rain for an event, while ignoring all of the instances where you predicted rain and there was none.

Statistics of small numbers

Using small numbers in order to report large percentage increases

"Our membership has increased 100% in the last year." (In reality, this could mean that the one prior member has recruited an additional member, and says nothing about the total number of members. An organization with 100,000 members which grows by 100% has increased its membership by 100,000, a far cry from increasing membership by one more member.)

Misunderstanding of the nature of statistics

Ignorance about central statistical assumptions and the definition of metrics.

Astonishment when confronted with the fact that half of all people have an IQ below 100, a value that was defined as the median score in the first place.

Inconsistency

Being inconsistent in any form, especially as in holding double standards.

Evolution isn't good science, since it can't be proven. Intelligent design is good science, because it can't be disproved.

Non sequitur

Latin for "it does not follow."

"Living specimens of orders of animals that were believed to have been extinct for millions of years have been found before, such as the Diatomyidae Squirrel, the Wollemi Pine, and the Coelacanth [and therefore dinosaurs co-existed with humans]."[6] The no-longer-extinct pine trees, squirrels and fish have no real connection to the extinct dinosaurs.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

Basing an effect on a cause only on the basis of chronology.

"In Romania, abortion was illegal under two decades of rule by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, and the country enjoyed one of the lowest breast cancer rates in the entire world during that time, far lower than comparable Western countries."[7] Just because the breast cancer rate went down does not mean that the illegality of abortions caused it. See also: Correlation does not equal causation

Excluded middle, or false dichotomy

portraying an issue or argument as having only two options and no spectrum in between.

Arguably, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." George W. Bush[8]

Short-term vs. long-term

Assuming a current trend has remained constant throughout its history and will continue to do so in the future, even though no evidence suggests such an extrapolation is justified.

Currently the earth's magnetic field is decreasing in intensity. At this rate, according to the time-frame supposed by evolution, the field would have originally been so powerful as to render earth inhospitable. Evidence, of course, suggests that the earth's magnetic field not only waxes and wanes, but even switches polarity every so often.

Slippery slope, related to excluded middle

Saying something is wrong because it is next to or loosely related to something wrong.

If gay marriage is legalized, all of our children will be converted to homosexuality, and Satan will win.

Confusion of correlation and causation

Just because two phenomena happen simultaneously does not mean that one causes the other.

People who go to church are happier than others. Thus, God makes people happy if they go to church.

Straw man

Misrepresenting a position to make it easier to criticize.

"Evolutionists believe that everything just poofed into existence!"

Suppressed evidence and half-truths

Drawing an unwarranted conclusion from premises that are at least in part correct.

The fact that atmospheric scientists still have minor disagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.

Weasel words

The usage of vague, non-specific references.

"Some say..."; "It has been suggested..."; "It is widely thought..." and so on.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]
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So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]", "sagreements about the specifics of global warming is misrepresented as indicative of a lack of consensus about the existence of the phenomenon. So it is with evolution, which also is host to minor disagreements as to how it happened, e.g. punctuated equilibrium, but this doesn't challenge its validity.\n\nWeasel words\n\nThe usage of vague, non-specific references.\n\n\"Some say...\"; \"It has been suggested...\"; \"It is widely thought...\" and so on.\n\nSee also[edit]\n\nExternal links[edit]\n\nReferences[edit]"]}