NORTH AMERICAN KANT SOCIETY: Amendments to NAKS constitution.

Dear David McDonald, I hope that this finds you well and safe at this difficult time. I write today to circulate to all members the second round of proposed amendments to the NAKS constitution: Proposed Amendments to NAKS constitution May 2020.pdf Amendments are marked in track changes. They have been approved by the NAKS Board and are now subject to consideration by the membership. Because we are unable to meet in person to discuss this matter, I will be convening a Zoom meeting, probably on June 3, for discussion. I will send an invitation, including specific information about the time of the meeting, soon. For those unable to attend the meeting, or who prefer the option of more extended/written discussion, there is also the option of posting on a new blog page on our website, made for this purpose (by Noam Hoffer, our great tech consultant!):  Constitution Changes Subsequently to these discussions, the vote will be held via email. Please do not hesitate to contact me (by reply to this email) if you have questions. With best regards, Rachel Zuckert The "North American Kant Society" is a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization. 2809 Kenyon Circle, Boulder, CO 80305. http://northamericankantsociety.onefireplace.org/

IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH: SCIENCE vs PSEUDOSCIENCE.

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. 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 the SCIENTIFIC METHOD OR PROPER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. 

(SUCH AS POLITICIANS ATTEMPTING TO USE TERMINOLOGY THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND TO ADDRESS AND SOLVE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES LIKE THE CORONAVIRUS.)

I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH: JUST BECAUSE A PUBLIC FIGURE USES A TERM OR PHRASE, DOES NOT MEAN THEY UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT MATTER.

Perhaps the most numerous examples of such cases of faulty reasoning skills can be found by TUNING 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 CONFORMATION BIAS. THIS ALLOWS FOR PROPER EVALUATION AND INTERPRETATION, RESULTING IN CONCLUSIONS AND HYPOTHESES 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.

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION: Elections reminder: Voting closes next Thursday.

Dear DAVID, Voting is currently underway to elect new Eastern Division officers and a new member at large of the APA board of officers, as well as to consider an amendment to the association bylaws. Voting closes Thursday, May 21. Thank you for voting! All the best, Amy E. Ferrer Executive Director

The American Philosophical Association University of Delaware 31 Amstel Avenue, Newark, DE 19716

PRESIDENT OBAMAS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Almost one year ago, President Barack Obama formally announced the launch of the Democratic Unity Fund:

President Obama wasn't alone -- soon, nearly every presidential primary candidate, along with 191,528 grassroots supporters, endorsed the Democratic Unity Fund.

Now, Democrats are coming together to lift our party’s presumptive nominee, Vice President Joe Biden, and Democrats down-ballot to victory in November.

This is the moment the Democratic Unity Fund was made for -- and we cannot slow down one bit. While the Democratic Unity Fund is already improving the data and technology that power thousands of Democratic campaigns across the country, there’s still so much to do right now -- while it's still early enough to have a major impact on Election Day.

What we’re able to accomplish in the coming months is going to have an incredible impact on our party’s success in November. And though our world has changed drastically in the last few months, it remains true that there's more that unites our party than sets us apart. By powering the tools that campaigns use to contact voters and train organizers, the Democratic Unity Fund is critical to bringing our party together to elect VP Joe Biden and Democrats nationwide.

Make a donation to support the Democratic Unity Fund and build the strong DNC Democrats nationwide are counting on to win.

Clarke Humphrey
Director of Online Fundraising
Democratic National Committee