Scientifically thinking: how to liberate your mind, solve the world's problems, and embrace the beauty of science

Description

Shows the many advantages of thinking like a scientist and argues that today's problems require a scientific approach. You don't have to be a scientist to think like a scientist. Anyone can do it and everyone should. This book will show you how. The advantages are many: from detecting bias to avoiding error and appreciating the richness of the world. Author Stanley Rice, himself a scientist, explains that science is essentially organized common sense. While the brain is hardwired for common sense, unfortunately, it also relies on a number of misleading tendencies. Instead of reasoning objectively it tends to rationalize. Often it sees what it wants to see rather than what is really there. And it is adept at both self-deception and deceiving others. Rice notes that these tendencies were useful in the past as the human race evolved in an often-hostile environment. But today bias and delusions put us at risk of worldwide catastrophe. The author invites readers to participate in the adventure of scientific discovery. He provides many interesting and humorous examples of how science works. He shows how hypothesis testing can be used to tackle everyday problems like car trouble or seeing through the specious appeal of a fad diet. Beyond practical applications, science meets the basic human need to satisfy curiosity: it tells verifiable stories about the universe, providing humans with fascinating narratives supported by testable facts. The author also explores some of science's biggest ideas, including natural selection (creating order out of randomness) and interconnectedness (Earth's systems are intricately intertwined). Read this book and learn to think like a scientist. It will guard you against being manipulated by politicians, corporations, and religious leaders, and equip you to deal with the world's most pressing problems. And you will have a lot of fun doing it.;Cover; Title Page; Copyright Page; CONTENTS; List of Illustrations; Author's Note; Acknowledgments; Introduction: We Need Science, and We Need It Now; SECTION I: THE ADVENTURE OF SCIENCE; Chapter 1. Science and How to Recognize It; Chapter 2. Science and Fiction: Organized Common Sense and Organized Creativity; Chapter 3. Experimenting with a Mountain; Chapter 4. Wright and Rong; SECTION II: LEGACY OF AN APE'S BRAIN; Chapter 5. A World of Illusion; Chapter 6. Just Measure It!?; Chapter 7. We See Lines while Nature Throws Us Curves; Chapter 8. It's Not All Black and White Cover Title Page Copyright Page CONTENTS List of Illustrations Author's Note Acknowledgments Introduction: We Need Science, and We Need It Now SECTION I: THE ADVENTURE OF SCIENCE Chapter 1. Science and How to Recognize It Chapter 2. Science and Fiction: Organized Common Sense and Organized Creativity Chapter 3. Experimenting with a Mountain Chapter 4. Wright and Rong SECTION II: LEGACY OF AN APE'S BRAIN Chapter 5. A World of Illusion Chapter 6. Just Measure It!? Chapter 7. We See Lines while Nature Throws Us Curves Chapter 8. It's Not All Black and White Chapter 9. Cause and EffectChapter 10. Is Bartholo-Meow Intelligent? Chapter 11. Measuring What You Think You're Measuring Chapter 12. Oops, I Hadn't Thought of That Chapter 13. Everybody's Biased but Me Chapter 14. Trust Us, We're Scientists Chapter 15. Trapped Chapter 16. What Exactly Do You Mean? Why Scientists (Should) Carefully Define Their Terms SECTION III: BIG IDEAS Chapter 17. Natural Selection: The Biggest Idea Ever Chapter 18. The Rediscovery of Human Nature SECTION IV: THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN THE WORLD Chapter 19. The Scientist in a Political World Chapter 20. Who Is Your Favorite Scientist and Why?Chapter 21. Amateurs and Specialists Chapter 22. Science Is an Adventure Epilogue: A Beautiful World Notes Index