Debunker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Debunkers are scientific skeptics who attempt to disprove and pursue what they consider to be false, unscientific, bizarre or abnormal claims. The ultimate intent of the debunking, according to some, is conclusively to disprove the validity of an event, theory, and/or phenomenon by exposing it as nonsense. According to Wiktionary, debunk means To discredit, or expose to ridicule the falsehood or the exaggerated claims of something.

Topics that many debunkers focus on include U.F.O.s, claimed paranormal phenomena, alternative medicine, research outside mainstream science, or pseudoscientific subjects. The term debunker is applied when a person functions as an activist and performs research, writes articles, holds speeches, conducts seminars, or engages in other activities with the specific intent of disproving a dubious, bizarre, or abnormal claim, such as those about U.F.O.s or other paranormal phenomena, and hopefully conclusively disproves the validity of the event and/or object.

As a slang term, debunking is the act of disproval of a proposal or theory, generally in an academic or scientific sense. The term debunk originated in 1923, when American novelist William Woodward (1874-1950) used it to mean to "take the bunk out of things."

Often the term "debunkery" is not limited to arguments about scientific validity. It can also be used in a more general sense at attempts to discredit any opposing point of view, such as that of a political opponent. However, the further debunkery is removed from objective argument of fact, the more likely it is to become just another form of propaganda. The TV show (as of 2007) MythBusters debunks current urban legends and myths.

"Debunkify", a variant of debunk has also recently been introduced into the lexicon. The word is a marketing/advertising term coined by the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, and is associated with debunking the myths associated with tobacco use. (http://www.debunkify.com)

1 Criticism
2 Well-known debunkers
3 Quotes
4 See also
5 Notes
6 References
7 External articles

[edit] Criticism

Many debunkers are rather controversial because they have strong opinions and can be vocal about things which may offend people, such as religion and pseudoscience.

Some, such as Marcello Truzzi (who himself was a skeptic), maintain that some debunkers are excessively and dishonestly skeptical, and thus not true skeptics but "pseudoskeptics". According to Truzzi, genuine skeptics are neutral or agnostic, often critical of new claims, but not vehemently opposed to them. They want better evidence. In contrast, pseudoskeptics are simply deniers with an agenda and often use unscientific arguments to debunk what they oppose. Truzzi argued that many things that pseudoskeptics label pseudoscience, could be more aptly be described as "protosciences" still struggling to establish mainstream acceptance. It is argued there are many historical examples of where pseudoskepticism seriously hindered scientific progress by unreasonably opposing introduction of radical new ideas. On the other hand, according to Truzzi, true skepticism would recognize the need for better evidence, but not actively oppose, ridicule, or discourage further investigation into any subject by serious and qualified researchers.^[1]^[2](On Pseudo-Skepticism by Marcello Truzzi)

Opposition to some debunkers has also been based on charges that, in an effort to discredit a specific phenomenon, the debunkers ignore established scientific principles in other fields. Electrical engineer and journalist Philip J. Klass, for example, once proposed that most UFOs could be explained as a type of plasma or ball lightning. However, the type of plasma proposed by Klass was unrecognized by plasma experts, and Klass's explanation was itself debunked by several critics: among Klass's critics were atmospheric physicist Dr. James E. McDonald (who might be described as "pro UFO"), and a panel of plasma physicists (most of whom could safely be described as "anti UFO") assembled by the Condon Committee. After several withering critiques of his plasma hypothesis were presented, Klass abandoned it altogether.

[edit] Well-known debunkers

Stephen Barrett specializes in debunking quackery, health fraud, and alternative medicine.
Robert Carroll, author of The Skeptic's Dictionary
Harry Houdini, one of the most famous magicians, escapologists, and stunt performers of all time, who also wrote on debunking.
Philip J. Klass was a debunker of UFOs.
Abraham Kovoor was a Sri Lankan professor known for attempting to debunk the prominent Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba.
Penn and Teller, a two-man magic and comedy team, who have become associated with skepticism. In particular, see their debunking show Bullshit!.
Philip Plait, also known as The Bad Astronomer, is a debunker of various theories related to space and astronomy. Most of these (and clearing up of other astronomy-related misconceptions) are accessible at his website.[1]
Basava Premanand is a rationalist and full time Indian skeptic from Tamil Nadu, publisher of the magazine the Indian Skeptic.
James Randi is a skeptic and opponent of pseudoscience, He founded the James Randi Educational Foundation.
Robert B. Stein, who debunks faked photographs of UFOs and cryptozoological creatures
Carl Sagan
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry a debunking organization
The Skeptics Society
The MythBusters, who have a show on the Discovery Channel. Two experts in the field of special effects, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, use modern technology to try to debunk urban legends.
L. Sprague de Camp, debunked speculative history and pseudoscience

[edit] Quotes

Remember: a thing cannot be "debunked" unless it is filled with bunk to begin with! ^[3]

To debunk is to unmask, to put straight, to clarify, to remove false opinions, to correct, to free from illusion. (Gordon 1988:35).

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

^ On Pseudo-Skepticism A Commentary by Marcello Truzzi by Marcello Truzzi in the Zetetic Scholar, #12-13, 1987
^ http://www.anomalist.com/commentaries/pseudo.html On Pseudo-Skepticism A Commentary by Marcello Truzzi Read the article here
^ http://www.debunker.com/ Debunker.com