Legends, Lore, and Lies A Skeptic's Stance (A Longman Topics Reader)

by Calabrese, Joseph

• ISBN13: 9780321439246
• ISBN10: 0321439244
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-03
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Legends, Lore, and Lies presents critical readings in five sectionsurban legends, alternative medicine, the mediars"s role in public gullibility, psychics and the paranormal, and pseudo scienceto demonstrate the importance of critical examination and the differences between an opinion or assertion and a supported claim. Demonstrates the importance of critical examination and the differences between an opinion or assertion and a supported claim. Urban legends, alternative medicine, mediars"s role in public gullibility, psychics, and the paranormal. General Interest

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Introduction: The Skeptic's Stance	p. 1
The Burden of Skepticism	p. 5
Urban Legends	p. 17
Lights Out!-A Faxlore Phenomenon	p. 20
French FoUies: A 9/11 Conspiracy Theory Turns Out to Be An Appalling Deception	p. 32
A Patently False Patent Myth-Still	p. 39
Big Lies on Campus: Exam Scams	p. 44
Urban Legends: Research and Writing Possibilities	p. 50
The Media and Public GuUibility	p. 52
Science Indicators 2000: Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience	p. 55
Mind Over Media: How the News Legitimizes the Paranormal and Why It Matters	p. 64
That's Entertainment! TV's UFO Coverup	p. 70
Stupid "Pet Psychic" Tricks: Crossing Over with Fifi and Fido on the Animal Planet Network	p. 75
Bone (Box) of Contention: The James Ossuary	p. 80
The Media and Public CuUlbility: Research and Writing Possibilities	p. 88
Alternative Medicine	p. 90
What's That I Smell? The Claims of Aromatherapy	p. 93
Magnetic Therapy: Plausible Attraction?	p. 99
Oxygen Is Good-Even When It's Not There	p. 111
Wired to the Kitchen Sink: Studying Weird Claims for Fun and Profit	p. 118
Homeopathy Finally Gets Some Respect	p. 122
Alternative Medicine: Research and Writing Possibilities	p. 128
Psychics and the Paranormal	p. 130
Heaven's Gate: The UFO Cult of Bo and Peep	p. 133
Hidden Messages and the Bible Code	p. 141
The First Crop Circles-Mystery Solved	p. 157
A Not-So-Psychic Detective? A Case Study of Noreen Renier's Latest and Greatest "Success" Story	p. 162
The Turtle Jean Lafitte: Adventures of a Pet Psychic	p. 172
Psychics and the Paranormal: Research and Writing Possibilities	p. 176
Science and Pseudosdence	p. 179
Only Mushrooms Grow in the Dark	p. 182
The Disaster That Wasn't: The Great Planetary Alignment of 2000	p. 193
My Favorite Pseudoscience	p. 200
Dr Down's Syndrome	p. 214
Remembering Dangerously	p. 222
Science and Pseudoscience: Research and Writing Possibilities	p. 241
Credits	p. 244
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