How to Be a Skeptic

摘要

Most of us, most of the time, want certainty, need to control our environment, and would like nice, neat, simple explanations. The pressures of reality lead us to be fascinated by mysteries, to seek spiritual meaning in our lives, and to hope for immortality. These desires may have some evolutionary basis, but they can interfere with critical thinking and problem solving. As a result, we may be seduced by the promises and claims of astrologers, psychics, and other pseudoscientists who deal in flimsy evidence and faulty logic. Here are some warning signs to watch out for before suspending disbelief.