What an interesting question...
On one hand I would say those who are not scientifically conversant, should probably stick with scientific consensus right? I mean how to choose an alternative opinion? I'd say this used to work pretty well with "main stream" topics, in the past.
Problem is- so many formerly mainstream topics are being found to be more complicated than we thought: take Darwinian evolutionary theory for example.
Then consider the bigger problem: that material science is SO far in the weeds and in denial over the whole set of subject matters relating to the non-physical aspect of reality. In these cases, just going along with main stream science will put you in a place where you don't even consider what we might call esoteric subject matter. Untrained people will be encouraged by mainstream science to ignore "those crackpots", and most do, in part because they have no basis to question what they are being told.
And this pretty much describes where we are I think.
Unqualified people, if they do venture off the path of standard science, do so rather unprepared to navigate the space very well. They need to learn as they go, and use their intuition A LOT to make choices. These people can be easily lead down wrong paths because they don't have the tools to recognize lots of the traps like: false assumptions, incorrect interpretation of data, poor methods, poor statistical analysis, etc etc.
It's a confounding problem, and it is no wonder we have the variety of different colors and shapes and sizes of skepticism, and proponents of these topics.
And I"d say- this problem, defines a huge part of the value that this site can provide to the world.
The ability to see the discussions unfold among a group of people that I would say are on average much more qualified (definitely more experienced in matters of the intersection of science and psi) than the average group of people you might find on the web, and maybe provide a lifeline to those who are considering whether psi is "real".
(This post was last modified: 2017-09-30, 01:47 PM by jkmac.)
On one hand I would say those who are not scientifically conversant, should probably stick with scientific consensus right? I mean how to choose an alternative opinion? I'd say this used to work pretty well with "main stream" topics, in the past.
Problem is- so many formerly mainstream topics are being found to be more complicated than we thought: take Darwinian evolutionary theory for example.
Then consider the bigger problem: that material science is SO far in the weeds and in denial over the whole set of subject matters relating to the non-physical aspect of reality. In these cases, just going along with main stream science will put you in a place where you don't even consider what we might call esoteric subject matter. Untrained people will be encouraged by mainstream science to ignore "those crackpots", and most do, in part because they have no basis to question what they are being told.
And this pretty much describes where we are I think.
Unqualified people, if they do venture off the path of standard science, do so rather unprepared to navigate the space very well. They need to learn as they go, and use their intuition A LOT to make choices. These people can be easily lead down wrong paths because they don't have the tools to recognize lots of the traps like: false assumptions, incorrect interpretation of data, poor methods, poor statistical analysis, etc etc.
It's a confounding problem, and it is no wonder we have the variety of different colors and shapes and sizes of skepticism, and proponents of these topics.
And I"d say- this problem, defines a huge part of the value that this site can provide to the world.
The ability to see the discussions unfold among a group of people that I would say are on average much more qualified (definitely more experienced in matters of the intersection of science and psi) than the average group of people you might find on the web, and maybe provide a lifeline to those who are considering whether psi is "real".
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