FEATURE ARTICLES. A LOOK AT PRESIDENT OBAMAS SPEECH, ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS HE IS TAKING TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE. PART 1.

(THE FOLLOWING IS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO A

SPEECH THEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA GAVE REGARDING

ACTIONS HE WAS TAKING REGARDING GUN CONTROL.)

Let us TRY TO IGNORE THE RHETORIC, SOUND BITES, AND 

OTHER MEANINGLESS CLAPTRAP BEING SPREAD ACROSS

THE AIRWAVES AND THE INTERNET, AND APPROACH THIS WITH 

MATURITY AND RATIONAL THOUGHT, WITH THE IDEA TO DO WHAT 

IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR THE U.S., THE WORLD, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Question #1-  Do we Agree that there are certain Individuals and/or Groups

that SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO FIREARMS. If so, who and why?

Question #2-  Previous Judicial Decisions and Legislative Actions have set

Limits, as to what ACTIONS ARE PERMISSIBLE and COVERED BY THE

BILL OF RIGHTS SET FORTH IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

For Example:

FREEDOM OF SPEECH-  DOES NOT ALLOW US TO SAY ANYTHING 

WE WANT, ANYWHERE WE WANT, AT ANY TIME, AND USE "FREEDOM

OF SPEECH" AS A UNIVERSAL DEFENSE TO AVOID SANCTIONS OR 

PUNISHMENTS.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION-  DOES NOT ALLOW POLYGAMY, PHYSICAL

ABUSE, CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN DRUGS, DISCRIMINATION IN THE

EMPLOYMENT SECTOR...AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO BE COVERED 

BY CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

So if we ACCEPT THAT SOME CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE NOT ABSOLUTE,

BUT ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD,

WHY WOULD THE 2ND AMENDMENT BE EXEMPT?

Question #3-  Given the Stated GOALS AND PROCEDURES SET FORTH BY 

THE PRESIDENT IN HIS SPEECH, TO HELP REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE, WHY

WOULD YOU CONCLUDE THAT:

-  THEY CANNOT BE ACHIEVED, OR WILL NOT

   PRODUCE DESIRABLE RESULTS?

-  THEY PRESENT AN UNREASONABLE BURDEN 

   ON THE LAW ABIDING GUN OWNER?

-  IT PUNISHES HONEST GUN OWNERS, INSTEAD OF

   REINFORCING THE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS THEY

   ALREADY MAKE?

TO BE CONTINUED...

FEATURE ARTICLES- THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH. PT 1.

Sometimes you may be watching a Program Dealing with a Controversial Topic, and Hear Words or Phrases that sound PROFOUND OR INSIGHTFUL.

Their Use Could Be an attempt to Make the Speaker sound Knowledgeable and Authoritative. However, If you pay attention to what is being said, you will often find an Individual Speaking about a Topic Who has a Fundamental Lack of Understanding about the SCIENTIFIC METHOD OR PROPER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.

 This is ESPECIALLY TRUE IF YOU TUNE INTO ONE OF THE CABLE TELEVISION SHOWS THAT ATTEMPTS TO LEGITIMIZE PSEUDOSCIENCE, AND ONE OF THEIR MANY SUBJECTS OR TOPICS. ( i.e. UFOS, ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS, GHOSTS, CRYPTIDS etc.)

 I'll be Describing a Few from Time to Time. See if you can spot Them the Next Time Your Channel Surfing.

 "SCIENCE CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW THIS WAS DONE."- Is an Often Used Phrase that seems to Indicate that the Discipline of Science is Stumped by some INCREDIBLE FIND OR DISCOVERY, SO THE PSEUDOSCIENCE BEING PUSHED ON THE SHOW PROVIDES THE REAL ANSWERS.

 Intellectual Discipline does not allow Science to make Uninformed or Unwarranted Conclusions, or Offer Opinions and Speculations that Lack any Basis in Reality. The SCIENTIFIC METHOD does not Mean offering Any and All Possible Solutions, AND MAINTAINING THAT THEY ARE ALL EQUALLY VALID.

 The Tools of Proper Scientific Study, Together with the Rules of Logic and Critical Thinking;

SYSTEMATICALLY GATHERS EVIDENCE THROUGH PROPER AND SET METHODS TO AVOID CONTAMINATION, OBSERVATIONAL ERROR, AND CONFIRMATION BIAS. THIS ALLOWS FOR PROPER EVALUATION AND INTERPRETATION, FREE OF PRECONCEIVED CONCLUSIONS THAT CAN STAND UP TO SCRUTINY.

 The Phrase; "WE MUST GO WHERE THE EVIDENCE TAKES US", IS ENTIRELY TRUE. HOWEVER, IT DOESN'T MEAN IGNORING DATA AND HYPOTHESES THAT CAN BE REASONABLY INFERRED FROM OBSERVATION AND TESTING, IN FAVOR OF SPECULATIVE IDEAS THAT HAVE NOT A SINGLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE THAT CAN WITHSTAND EVEN THE MOST CURSORY EVALUATION.

 This Leaves us the Most Telling Difference BETWEEN REAL SCIENCE VS PSEUDOSCIENCE; REAL SCIENTIFIC STUDY PROPERLY GATHERS, STUDIES AND INTERPRETS ALL AVAILABLE DATA TO FORM CONCLUSIONS THAT EXPLAIN WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND, OR HYPOTHESIZE ABOUT ALL REASONABLE POSSIBILITIES.

PSEUDOSCIENCE STARTS WITH A CONCLUSION, (THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD), AND TRIES TO FIND ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT. THIS IS USUALLY DONE:

- BY MISHANDLING OR MISIDENTIFYING AVAILABLE DATA.
- ASSERTING FACTS NOT IN EVIDENCE.
- IGNORING RELATIVE DATA.
- FAILING TO UNDERSTAND, OR LACKING KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL LAW.  
- INCORRECT REPORTING OF SPECIFIC EVENTS, EITHER BY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR INSUFFICIENT RESEARCH.
 ... AMONG OTHER THINGS.
 Look for Specific Examples in Future Posts.

QUICK HITTERS. THE DONALD TRUMP ERA: WHEN HATE OVERCOMES REASON, OR JUSTICE. PT 1.

If there is one thing that many Americans have realized by now is that Donald Trump, and those who support him, define certain words such as "FREEDOM" AND "RIGHTS,"  in a most unusual way. The reason? To give a voice to the IRRATIONAL, BIGOTED, RACIST,etc., individuals and groups who needed an Outlet and Spokesperson who would lend "RESPECTABILITY" TO THEIR DOCTRINE OF HATE.

In the past, such attitudes were hidden beneath the Trappings of such concepts as "PATRIOTISM" and "RELIGIOUS FAITH."  However, these Beliefs were losing their fight against SOCIAL CHANGE, with the gains made by Minority Groups during the 20th Century. Racial, Gender, and Same Sex Organizations fought lengthy battles to achieve Equality of Treatment and Opportunity, and with the aid of LIBERAL/PROGRESSIVE ALLIES, such Goals were coming to pass.

Unfortunately, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS, TIME AND AGAIN, REFUSED TO STAND UP TO THE FAR RIGHT WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TO THE POINT OF IGNORING THINGS LIKE;

-  THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL DENIAL OF A MANDATED HEARING FOR PRESIDENT OBAMAS CHOICE FOR THE VACANCY ON THE SUPREME COURT.

-  THE BOGUS, AND RIGGED ELECTION RESULTS THAT PUT TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
(SEE MY ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECT.)

-  DONALD TRUMP USING HIS TITLE TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL "GET RICH QUICK SCHEMES" ON THE INTERNET.

When the AMERICAN PEOPLE NEEDED THEM, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHOSE TO DO NOTHING, AND NOW WERE PAYING FOR IT.  It is very easy to SOUND ANGRY AND OFFENDED AFTER THE FACT, WHEN THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.

EXAMPLE:  INSTEAD OF FILING SUIT AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BY REFUSING TO HOLD HEARINGS FOR BARACK OBAMAS CHOICE FOR THE SUPREME COURT, ( MERRICK GARLAND), THEY COMPLAINED AND DID NOTHING. THIS WEEKS "FILIBUSTER" WAS ALL BARK AND NO BITE, IT HAD NO CHANCE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL.

Events like this have allowed The type of AMERICAN CITIZEN DONALD TRUMP CATERS TO, the confidence to push for even more legislation to turn back the clock on...

LOGIC- IT'S NOT JUST FOR VULCANS, AND VIEWERS OF "THE BIG BANG THEORY." #6. SHELDON AND HIS MOTHER- POST HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC, AND THE FALLACY OF TRUTH BY ASSOCIATION. PT 1.

(FIRST PUBLISHED ON 10/5/2014.)

Since Logic now how has its own page and category, I thought it might be appropriate if we took an example of a Logical Fallacy from "THE BIG BANG THEORY."  This one is called POST HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC.  

Also, this article will expand this example to include the Fallacy of TRUTH BY ASSOCIATION.

The first episode of the third season, entitled "THE ELECTRICAL CAN OPENER FLUCTUATION", Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj return from their trip to the Magnetic North Pole.  As he is walking through the door into the apartment, Sheldon has the following exchange with his mother while on the phone:

"No mother, I could not feel your church group praying for my safety.  The fact that 

I'm home safe does not prove that it worked. That logic is Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc."

Translated from Latin, it means, "After this, therefore because of this."  It is the Logical Fallacy of assuming a causal relationship between two events, and excluding everything else without justification.

To make this easier to understand here is the breakdown;

                            Sheldon goes on his trip,

                                          

                                          Then,

                    Sheldons mom, and her church group pray 

                                      for his safety,

                                           Then,

                            Sheldon returns home safely,

                                         Therefore,

                          The prayer ensured his safety. 

What Sheldon could have pointed out, to his mother, is that his safe return could be the result of one, or  more of the following: 

1)  Proper planning.

2)  Safety procedures that were followed while en route, or on the way home.

3)  Adequate Water, Food, Clothes etc, to amply supply their needs. 

4)  Communications that allowed access to emergency aid from the outside world.

5)  The mental discipline and knowledge to meet any difficulty calmly and intellectually.

In other words, Sheldons mom concluded that the prayer was the reason for a safe

return, when in fact there may have been other reasons.

Before any of my readers, who believe in the power of prayer, say that I can't rule out Divine Intervention, my reply is simple;  

I AM NOT TRYING TO.

END PT 1.