Science
Science is not white coats and test-tubes. Science is a way of looking at the world that happens to be the only way we know to reliably find correct answers.
Correct isn't everything. It is possible that we cannot create the meaning that our psychology requires for sane existence with only correct to work with. Other ways of looking at the world have great value in many aspects of life, just not in generating right answers.
For instance, it is quite unlikely that anyone is with their soul-mate. Even the most gregarious of us only meet a teeny tiny fraction of a percent of the people in the world.
But there is value to thinking our mate is uniquely right for us. It is a lovely thought and feeling.
But if you want to know the truth of things there is no replacement for the scientific approach.
Science finds objective truth. The value of objective truth is that it is independent of subjective view. The ghosts won't arrive at the seance if there are skeptics in the room. But the light goes on when you flip the switch even if you do not believe in electricity.
Science does not say that most things are bullshit. Science says that most things are not worth talking about in terms of true and false. (I think Psycho is a better film than North By Northwest. I can argue it, but I cannot prove it because it cannot ever be objectively true. On the other hand, all observers can agree that mountains are bigger than chicken eggs.)
I say the Loch Ness monster is in my swimming pool. You say, ""Can I see it?" I say, "No." Is there any evidence that would demonstrate, or even suggest, the truth of what is a rather extraordinary claim? "No. All you have is my assertion."
There is now nothing to talk about. Maybe I do have Nessie in my pool. But if I am not going to demonstrate that fact in objective terms then I have not demonstrated anything other than, "A human being is capable of speaking the sentence, 'The Loch Ness monster is in my swimming pool.'"
Your skepticism in the face of zero evidence does not disprove my claim.
The lack of evidence proves nothing. It does, however, make my claim something that is not worth talking about or thinking about in terms of correct and incorrect. In those terms, it is meaningless.
Having an open mind does not meaning crediting bullshit. It means accepting that any seeming bullshit can be elevated to a high level of probability of truth with sufficient quality evidence, though the evidentiary standards for some extreme bullshit would have to be awfully high.
Without evidence there is something less than falsity. There is irrelevance.
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for the best explanation of the scientific method and mindset that has ever been written for a lay audience.
