Critical thinking in 20 minutes
In this article, we take a look at common arguments used to promote that someone has supernatural powers.
Imagine Mr. X. He claims to have supernatural powers. The powers can be anything, such as the power to cure diseases, summon devils, talk to angels.
What are the most common arguments? How is critical thinking applied?
Argument
“Mr. X does not seek money or fame, so he does not have a motive to cheat.”
Critical thinking
How did we hear about Mr. X, then? Somebody must have heard about Mr. X because of his powers.
What does Mr. X make money from, then? A man has got to eat.
Is Mr. X controlling other people with his powers? Control over others is a powerful motive.
Argument
“Mr. X does not know how to cheat, so he cannot be cheating.”
Critical thinking
How do we know he does not know how to cheat? The easiest thing is to lie about abilities.
Will we just believe Mr. X?
What do we need evidence for, then?
Argument
“Mr. X was tested for cheating, so he is not cheating.”
Critical thinking
Are the tests designed to test for all types of cheating? Cheaters always know more than one way of cheating.
Argument
“Mr. X makes mistakes which proves he is not cheating since a cheater would not make those mistakes.”
Critical thinking
Why is this not evidence that Mr. X does not have supernatural powers?
Why is this not an attempt of explaining away that Mr. X is cheating?
Argument
“Mr. X does what many others before him has done, so he does also have the powers.”
Critical thinking
Can we all fly to the Moon just because others have done it before?
Argument
“Mr. X’s critics have not provided sufficient reasons for doubting Mr. X, so Mr. X has the powers.”
Critical thinking
Could these critics not have tested Mr. X properly?
Could this be an attempt of avoiding to accept that the reasons are valid?
Argument
“Mr. X has the support of famous and important people, so Mr. X must have the powers.”
Critical thinking
Could these famous and important people be wrong about Mr. X? Just because someone is famous and important does not automatically make them smart.
Argument
“Mr. X has been tested by experts and the results proved Mr. X had the powers so the tests must be right and the results should be acknowledged.”
Critical thinking
Did these experts test Mr. X the proper way? Perhaps the experts overlooked something or did not know how to test.
Do these experts know how to spot cheating?
Have these experts applied that knowledge when testing Mr. X?
Did these experts believe in the powers that Mr. X claims to have before they tested Mr. X?
Argument
“Mr. X has been tested by experts and the results proved Mr. X did not have the powers so the tests must be wrong or the results should be ignored.”
Critical thinking
Could it not be that Mr. X was tested properly?
Argument
“Mr. X sometimes contradicts himself but that is not evidence that he is cheating.”
Critical thinking
Why would that not be evidence that Mr. X forgets what he claims to be able to do?
Argument
“Mr. X cannot use his powers on command but only when he feels that everything is right.”
Critical thinking
Why does Mr. X get to control the situation?
Could Mr. X use this control to cheat?
Argument
“Mr. X performs his powers as cheaters would but this only proves that Mr. X has the power.”
Critical thinking
How do you tell apart someone with powers and someone who cheats?
Argument
“Mr. X can do something that critics have not been able to explain, so Mr. X has the power.”
Critical thinking
Why? Unexplained is not inexplicable. Years back, electricity was believed to be the work of the gods. Is that still the case?
Argument
“Mr. X cannot use his powers when there are critics around.”
Critical thinking
Could this mean that Mr. X knows that critics will discover he is cheating?
Argument
“Mr. X cannot accept money because his powers will disappear.”
Critical thinking
Is there no money at all involved by anyone connected with Mr. X when Mr. X uses his powers?
Argument
“Mr. X cannot participate in tests with too many controls because his powers will disappear.”
Critical thinking
Why is this not evidence that Mr. X does not have supernatural powers?
Argument
“Mr. X was caught cheating because he wanted to please the critics.”
Critical thinking
Why would Mr. X want to please the critics? Does that mean Mr. X also wants to please those who believe he has powers?
