Seeing Reason

Question 1

Some signs of ill-heath in public debate

Answer 1

extreme polarization, appeals to negative emotion, personal abuse, social media shaming

Question 2

Causes of ill heath in the public debate?

Answer 2

political ideology, identification of oneself with one’s belief, tribalism, internet siloing and filter bubbles, scientific illiteracy and innumeracy, private organizations and dark money, ease of unedited and unreviewed communication

Question 3

Motivated reasoning

Answer 3

fact-collecting/argument on a preconclued idea. (ideaology)

Question 4

Confirmation bias

Answer 4

people tend to favour evidence that supports a conclusion they already hold

Question 5

ad hominen fallacy

Answer 5

“to the man” rebutting an argument by attacking their character and beleifs

Question 6

genetic fallacy

Answer 6

blaming how someone believes based on heritage or upbringing

Question 7

argument from authority

Answer 7

argument tool to claim proof based on a authorities opinion

Question 8

Last Thursdayism

Answer 8

beleif that the world and everything in it was created last thursday. resistent to all attempts at falsification

Question 9

Remedies

Answer 9

scientific curiosity, care about sources, awareness of logical fallacies, avoiding an us-against-them mentality