Comments on: Science & the Decline of Magic http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/ books, essays, columns, reviews, and multimedia clips of famed skeptic Michael Shermer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:36:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Vichy http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-3112 Vichy Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:24:00 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/#comment-3112 “A great many of us, when we be in trouble, or sickness, or lose anything, we run hither and thither to witches, or sorcerers, whom we call wise men … seeking aid and comfort at their hands,” But couldn't we say that in many historical instances these 'wise men' and sorcerers were the modern equivalent of doctors. Certainly, many of their theories were certainly wrong, but there is also good evidence that much of modern medicine is BS; likewise for as much as most people know about medicine, or their doctors individually, they may as well be 'wizards'. “A great many of us, when we be in trouble, or sickness, or lose anything, we run hither and thither to witches, or sorcerers, whom we call wise men … seeking aid and comfort at their hands,”
But couldn’t we say that in many historical instances these ‘wise men’ and sorcerers were the modern equivalent of doctors. Certainly, many of their theories were certainly wrong, but there is also good evidence that much of modern medicine is BS; likewise for as much as most people know about medicine, or their doctors individually, they may as well be ‘wizards’.

]]> By: Peter Bairey http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-1991 Peter Bairey Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:03:13 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/#comment-1991 A few years ago I was working on a project at the home of a family of Krishna devotees. The young man who was helping me, seemingly reasonably educated and sincere, expressed the opinion that the moon landings were faked. I was shocked, perhaps naively, especially considering his belief in the Indian religious traditional writings. I've come to the conclusion that we will always have at least half the people in any society will be of the magical persuasion. A few years ago I was working on a project at the home of a family of Krishna devotees. The young man who was helping me, seemingly reasonably educated and sincere, expressed the opinion that the moon landings were faked. I was shocked, perhaps naively, especially considering his belief in the Indian religious traditional writings.

I’ve come to the conclusion that we will always have at least half the people in any society will be of the magical persuasion.

]]> By: Galo E. Villarán M. http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-1984 Galo E. Villarán M. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:01:21 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/#comment-1984 Hope that some day Mr. Shermer optimizm could be true; but, at least in this country (Perú, South america) superstición and "magic" is icreasing even in the "educated" and well-being people. In some way, it looks like here was no "scientific revolution" -and now there is a scientific involution. Hope that some day Mr. Shermer optimizm could be true; but, at least in this country (Perú, South america) superstición and “magic” is icreasing even in the “educated” and well-being people. In some way, it looks like here was no “scientific revolution” -and now there is a scientific involution.

]]> By: George http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-1969 George Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:43:03 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/#comment-1969 It appears to me that in a sense, science may have been too successful. People expect that there be explanations for everything. They understand the scientific method not well enough. They believe it is a method to prove hypotheses, whereas, it is really a method to check whether predictions are reliable and to disprove conjectures. What is needed is the honesty to realize that there are things even the brightest people are never going to understand. It is probably true that overtime belief in supernatural things will decline, but it is difficult since children spend so much of their young lives being told that belief in things which they cannot understand is so important, and this, by the people who love them and have only their best interests at heart. It appears to me that in a sense, science may have been too successful. People expect that there be explanations for everything. They understand the scientific method not well enough. They believe it is a method to prove hypotheses, whereas, it is really a method to check whether predictions are reliable and to disprove conjectures. What is needed is the honesty to realize that there are things even the brightest people are never going to understand.
It is probably true that overtime belief in supernatural things will decline, but it is difficult since children spend so much of their young lives being told that belief in things which they cannot understand is so important, and this, by the people who love them and have only their best interests at heart.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-1968 Rachel Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:16:31 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/#comment-1968 Just this morning I was having a conversation with my partner, wondering if people really did believe in these things. Daniel Dennett put it well in his example of a person hanging by a cliff asking for help and then, following God's invitation to trust and let go, asks if there is anyone else. In other words, do people truly believe in lucky numbers? Would they invest their money only according to these, and not any other logic of the market? The issue of alternative therapies is a bit more ambiguous, as people are called to decide whether to accept modern medical practices and drugs - some choosing alternative therapies (which indicates to me that they do truly believe in them). Other beliefs are not so clean cut though. Leaves me hopeful that people 'say' they believe but don't actually. Rachel Just this morning I was having a conversation with my partner, wondering if people really did believe in these things. Daniel Dennett put it well in his example of a person hanging by a cliff asking for help and then, following God’s invitation to trust and let go, asks if there is anyone else.

In other words, do people truly believe in lucky numbers? Would they invest their money only according to these, and not any other logic of the market? The issue of alternative therapies is a bit more ambiguous, as people are called to decide whether to accept modern medical practices and drugs – some choosing alternative therapies (which indicates to me that they do truly believe in them). Other beliefs are not so clean cut though. Leaves me hopeful that people ’say’ they believe but don’t actually.

Rachel

]]> By: Ronald M. Wade http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-1959 Ronald M. Wade Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:42:05 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/01/science-and-the-decline-of-magic/#comment-1959 I agree there is at least hope for pulling mankind out of the pit. But we have a long way to go. As always, Mr. Shermer, your voice is that of reason and logic. You DO realize, don't you, that you must not pass on but must hang around this benighted world permanently? I agree there is at least hope for pulling mankind out of the pit. But we have a long way to go.

As always, Mr. Shermer, your voice is that of reason and logic. You DO realize, don’t you, that you must not pass on but must hang around this benighted world permanently?

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