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this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2023
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All pseudoscience is dangerous as it promotes magical thinking and denigrates the importance of critical thinking.
Interesting. So where do you sit on things like religion being discussed online?
Not sure I follow... Is the implication that religion is magical thinking, and therefore harmful to society? Because if so, I agree.
If you really are interested in this concept, I highly recommend reading "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark" by Carl Sagan. In fact, it should be required reading for every adult human.
He explains why this stuff is harmful way better than I ever could.
There are always elements of 'magical thinking' in our lives. There is a lot that cannot be explained by the logical, such as human behaviour. And sometimes we have these fantasies in our head, even though they are impossible or...out there.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that on some level, 'magical thinking' is innate to all of us and isn't something that should be discouraged. Obviously it shouldn't override hard facts but if they do and no one stands to be harmed...just let people be wrong and start on the process of learning.
Again, if you actually care to learn more about this position, I highly recommend reading A Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. Like I said, he does a much better job explaining what I'm attempting to say.
I'm not talking about people just "being wrong," and then learning. That isn't what's happening.
And no, magical thinking is not part of everyone's life, and it absolutely should be discouraged.
How are we defining magical thinking here? Are we talking about anything illogical or specifically the unironic my-Hogwarts-letter-got-lost-in-the-post types?
I'll definitely give that book a read, thanks for the recommendation.
So, wait, you think literally any superstitious thinking is harmful? That literally is something most people do to one extent or another.