ANT210H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-6: Why People Believe Weird Things, Cardiff Giant, History Of Japan
Document Summary
Human prehistory best understood as the result of supernatural occurrences. Public is generally accepting of supernatural claims despite the scientific evidence to support: even university students have high level of beliefs. Science: understanding the world around us through logical thought. Pseudoscience: set of ideas put forth as scientific when they are not scientific. Fascinated by possibilities rejected by orthodox science; want to believe. The morning of the magicians believed that we are rediscovering abilities that prehistoric people had (flying, harnessing energy, communication electronically: we use technology now but before they could do it with their minds. Claims seemed plausible because no knowledge to assess them intelligently: claims all discounted and disproven by scientists. Epistemology: study of knowledge, how do you know what you know. Tallest mountain considered above sea level mount everest: consider mountain as whole mauna kea. Depends on how you define the terminology, mountains for ex. Technology helps to find these highest (satellites, computers)
