Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share 365DaysOfPhilosophy 231 - Book Resource Beyond Belief Skepticism Science and the Paranormal.mp3
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
365DaysOfPhilosophy 231 - Book Resource Beyond Belief Skepticism Science and the Paranormal.mp3
Another great Australian-centric book for the study of skepticism is Dr Martin Bridgstock’s Beyond Belief: Skepticism, Science and the Paranormal. Published in 2009, this has been used as a textbook in a number of colleges that I know of (the author himself was a professor in the field, with an extremely popular course at Griffith University on the subject), with a grounding in not only the analysis of popular beliefs in Australia and beyond but the author’s own work in critically engaging with pseudoscientific beliefs worldwide.
Whether ghosts, astrology or ESP, up to 80 per cent of the population believes in one or more aspects of the paranormal. Such beliefs are entertaining, and it is tempting to think of them as harmless. However, there is mounting evidence that paranormal beliefs can be dangerous — cases of children dying because parents rejected orthodox medicine in favour of alternative remedies, and ‘psychics’ who trade on the grief of the bereaved for personal profit and gain.
As a general reference book, it’s topical and detailed, but would be of best use for anyone who is hoping to do further and more detailed work into the range of popular beliefs that exist, as it outlines the basics of skepticism and raises awareness of how pervasive some claims are.
View all episodes
Another great Australian-centric book for the study of skepticism is Dr Martin Bridgstock’s Beyond Belief: Skepticism, Science and the Paranormal. Published in 2009, this has been used as a textbook in a number of colleges that I know of (the author himself was a professor in the field, with an extremely popular course at Griffith University on the subject), with a grounding in not only the analysis of popular beliefs in Australia and beyond but the author’s own work in critically engaging with pseudoscientific beliefs worldwide.
Whether ghosts, astrology or ESP, up to 80 per cent of the population believes in one or more aspects of the paranormal. Such beliefs are entertaining, and it is tempting to think of them as harmless. However, there is mounting evidence that paranormal beliefs can be dangerous — cases of children dying because parents rejected orthodox medicine in favour of alternative remedies, and ‘psychics’ who trade on the grief of the bereaved for personal profit and gain.
As a general reference book, it’s topical and detailed, but would be of best use for anyone who is hoping to do further and more detailed work into the range of popular beliefs that exist, as it outlines the basics of skepticism and raises awareness of how pervasive some claims are.