Centre for Inquiry UK and Conway Hall present:
Science and Pseudo-Science:
Chris French, Andy Lewis (Quackometer), James Ladyman and Stephen Law
Sat 30th November 2013
What distinguishes real science from pseudo-science, flim-flam and bullshit? Is parapsychology a science? Is Young Earth Creationism science? Is pseudo-science on the rise in British schools? Tickets here or on door.
11am Prof. Chris French (Goldsmiths Dept. of Anomolistic Psychology).
“Parapsychology and Science”
12.00 Prof. James Ladyman. Former editor of the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science and author of Understanding Philosophy of Science (Routledge 2002) and (with Don Ross) Every Thing Must Go (Oxford University Press 2007).
“Pseudo-science and Bullshit” Bullshitting, according to Harry Frankfurt, is very different from lying. Pseudoscience is similarly different from science fraud. The pseudoscientist, like the bullshitter, is less in touch with the truth and less concerned with it than either the fraudster or the liar.
1.30pm Dr. Stephen Law (Heythrop College University of London)
“But it Fits!” (looking at Young Earth Creationism)
How to make a ludicrous belief system look not unreasonable.
2.30pm Andy Lewis (Quackometer)
“Educational Imposters: The Rise of Pseudoscience in UK Free Schools”
Michael Gove has stated that Free Schools will not be allowed to teach pseudoscience. But can we trust some of the cult-like organisations running these schools to teach good science and to refrain from letting their own alternative reality influence classrooms? Maharishi and Steiner schools both have occult and pseudoscientific beliefs at their core and so we should ask "What are they teaching children?"
3.30 END
Saturday November 30th 2013
Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square
Holborn
London
WC1R 4RL
£10 (£5 students) Free to friends of CFI UK. Tickets here.
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