Beyond belief skepticism, science and the paranormal

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 dy...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Otros Autores: Bridgstock, Martin, 1948- author (author)
Formato: Libro electrónico
Idioma:Inglés
Publicado: Cambridge : Cambridge University Press 2009.
Edición:1st ed
Materias:
Ver en Biblioteca Universitat Ramon Llull:https://discovery.url.edu/permalink/34CSUC_URL/1im36ta/alma991009798169906719
Descripción
Sumario: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. Expenditure on the paranormal runs into billions of dollars each year. In Beyond Belief: Skepticism, Science and the Paranormal Martin Bridgstock provides an integrated understanding of what an evidence-based approach to the paranormal - a skeptical approach - involves, and why it is necessary. Bridgstock does not set out to show that all paranormal claims are necessarily false, but he does suggest that we all need the analytical ability and critical thinking skills to seek and assess the evidence for paranormal claims.
Notas:Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
Descripción Física:1 online resource (xi, 202 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)
Bibliografía:Includes bibliographic references (p. 186-195) and index.
ISBN:9781107207707
9780511849596
9781282651388
9786612651380
9780511689574
9780511691058
9780511692178
9780511690310
9780511688829