Introduction: Finding and Fighting Everyday
Lies
A
Znet Instructional by Justin Podur
Have you ever heard an argument that made
you sick to your stomach, but that you couldn't explain why? Have you ever been
intimidated by obscure language or diverted by clever argumentative tricks?
Have you ever wondered how to tell when someone was using statistics to pull
the wool over your eyes?
The battle to bring about a sane and just
world takes place in two places. In the streets, where organization, cohesion,
courage, and unity are key; and in people's minds, where care, objectivity,
doubt, and independence are most important. To fight the latter battle is to
try to uncover with others the truth about the world. This is difficult enough.
But we are awash in lies. So a big part of the task of getting at the truth is
uncovering and exposing those lies.
How can this be done? For one, by having an
adequate supply of facts. But facts are not enough. Facts aren't all. Facts can
be hidden, misinterpreted, misrepresented, or lied about. And there are ways to
spot these things.
This course aims to teach the basic skills
required for spotting lies. First, an understanding of how arguments work--
logic. Second, one of the best methods of lying and obfuscation ever invented--
statistics. The emphasis will be in the logic section on recognizing sound and
unsound arguments, looking for implicit and explicit assumptions, and common
tricks used to cover up unsound reasoning. In the second section, basic ideas
of statistics will be taught, and with them the many ways this interesting tool
is used to deceive. Real examples and choice bits of propaganda will be used
and dissected. The emphasis is on practical reasoning and statistics, and the
underlying ideas. References will be provided for students more interested in
technical details.
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Table of Contents
Section I: Logic
5.
Application
10. Homework
Section
II: Statistics
15. Probability, Significance, Ranges
16. Pictures
17. Semiattachment