{"title":"The seed of 'La Evolución': The development of human palaeontology in Spain in recent decades","authors":"A. Rosas","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.10182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.10182","url":null,"abstract":"Human palaeontology in Spain has experienced extraordinary growth in recent decades. In this work we investigate the influence that the book La evolucion (1966) and its editors, Miquel Crusafont, Bermudo Melendez, and Emiliano Aguirre, exerted on this explosion. Two areas have developed significantly: the study of the Miocene hominoids, originally linked to Crusafont and the Valles-Penedes basin sites (Barcelona), and the study of the first human occupations in Europe, closely related to Aguirre and the Atapuerca excavations (Burgos). Different factors have contributed to this progress, but the research inertia of La evolucion and its conceptual foundations have been key to the development of the discipline.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44346815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aircraft clouds: From chemtrail pseudoscience to the science of contrails","authors":"J. Mazon, M. Costa, D. Pino","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.9954","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.9954","url":null,"abstract":"The most frequent statements and arguments found in pseudoscience websites and forums supporting the existence of so-called aircraft chemtrails can be refuted with a scientific explanation of the processes resulting in the formation of condensation or deposition trails, known as contrails . Thus, the hypothesis that chemtrails exist is disproven by the scientific literature that shows that they are the exact same entity as contrails: They are hydrological phenomena which result from a physical process referenced in the many studies carried out since the beginning of the age of aviation, in the early twentieth century. Hence, in this paper we conclude that pseudoscience’s chemtrails are nothing more than the contrails described by science.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"8 1","pages":"180-187"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41334906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How connected are the major forms of irrationality? An analysis of pseudoscience, science denial, fact resistance and alternative facts","authors":"S. Hansson","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.10005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.10005","url":null,"abstract":"Science is a fact-finding practice, but there are many other fact-finding practices that apply largely the same patterns of reasoning in order to achieve as reliable information as possible in empirical issues. The fact-finding practices form in their turn a subcategory of rational discourse, a wider category that also encompasses argumentation on non-empirical issues. Based on these categories, it is easy to see the relationship between on the one hand pseudoscience, and on the other hand fact resistance, disinformation, and fallacies of reasoning. The flaws in argumentation are similar, and the main difference is whether or not the subject matter falls within or without the realm of science.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"124-131"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43027053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How to be a critical but reasonable debater: suggestions for critically addressing pseudoscientists and other similar groups","authors":"Jesús Alcolea Banegas","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.10003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.10003","url":null,"abstract":"El discurso sobre la pseudociencia viene acompanado del discurso de la ciencia. A pesar de los intentos por separar ambos dominios, las personas siguen confiando en remedios pseudocientificos. La facilidad con que las creencias se contagian, la popularidad de determinados productos y la palabreria de sus vendedores, etc. suelen dejarnos en manos de supuestos expertos. Aunque que el metodo cientifico puede ayudarnos a demostrar la ineficacia de ciertos remedios, no siempre disponemos argumentos concluyentes para despejar las dudas, de manera que quedamos a merced de supuestos conocimientos tecnicos o bajo el falso rigor cientifico. Frente a ello debemos recurrir al pensamiento critico y las vias que nos ofrece para atender a supuestos expertos y conducirnos de forma razonable.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"118-124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49195256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Divanes, gurús y trastornos mentales. El origen y los peligros de la pseudopsicología clínica","authors":"A. Fasce","doi":"10.7203/metode.8.9977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.8.9977","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pseudoscience and bad science in biomedicine: Analysis of evidence, health risks, and media dissemination","authors":"G. Casino","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.10019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.10019","url":null,"abstract":"Pseudoscience (false science) and science based on faulty and biased studies (bad science) produce false or uncertain knowledge, with poor or no evidence. Both represent a health risk: pseudoscience-based therapies because they can replace or delay conventional treatments, and low-quality biomedicine because it promotes medical interventions that can be dangerous. In the press, alternative therapies are less prevalent than low-quality research, while the former tends to be framed negatively and the latter favourably. Both require more thorough and rigorous studies to better understand their negative effects on critical thinking, economics, and health-related decision making.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"157-163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47789974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dismantling the rhetoric of alternative medicine: Smokescreens, errors, conspiracies, and follies","authors":"E. Ernst, A. Fasce","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.10004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.10004","url":null,"abstract":"Alternative medicine has a high social prevalence, being promoted by well organized groups that have developed an intricate rhetoric in order to self-justify in the absence of evidence. This article will analyse some of these arguments, some of their fallacies – ad populum , ad ignorantiam –, other styles of reasoning – conspiracy theories – and other misconceptions of scientific concepts – placebo effect, scientific authority. The objective will be to highlight the poverty of the rhetoric of proponents of alternative medicine, with special emphasis on the dangers for the consumer.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"148-155"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44962064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evolution of the ‘Homo’ genus: New mysteries and perspectives","authors":"J. Agustí","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.9308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.9308","url":null,"abstract":"This work reviews the main questions surrounding the evolution of the genus Homo , such as its origin, the problem of variability in Homo erectus and the impact of palaeogenomics. A consensus has not yet been reached regarding which Australopithecus candidate gave rise to the first representatives assignable to Homo and this discussion even affects the recognition of the H. habilis and H. rudolfensis species. Regarding the variability of the first palaeodemes assigned to Homo , the discovery of the Dmanisi site in Georgia called into question some of the criteria used until now to distinguish between species like H. erectus or H. ergaster . Finally, the emergence of palaeogenomics has provided evidence that the flow of genetic material between old hominin populations was wider than expected.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"71-77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42828498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"History and reality of the genus ‘Homo’: What is it and why do we think so?","authors":"I. Tattersall","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.9111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.9111","url":null,"abstract":"Paleoanthropologists who worry about how nature is organized into species, and about what we should call them, are very often accused by their peers of «just arguing about names». This implies that basic taxonomy is a boring clerical operation that should be dispensed with as quickly as possible or even ignored, so that we can get to the really interesting questions about human evolution. Yet the reality is that we shall never understand the events of the intricate human evolutionary play if we cannot accurately identify the actors who participated in that drama. This article looks briefly at how our current supremely woolly concept of the genus Homo has come about, as background for urging a more rational approach to defining it.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"78-89"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47732753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"‘Homo sapiens’: who are we? Essential traits of our species","authors":"E. Carbonell, J. M. Bermúdez de Castro, R. Sala","doi":"10.7203/METODE.8.9481","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/METODE.8.9481","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, we analyse the characteristics of current humans based on their origin. The objective is to characterise the biological and cultural evolution of humans within the evolutionary framework of the species in our genus. We organise hierarchically the characteristics that tell us apart from other species in the animal kingdom: manufacturing a wide range of tools, controlling fire, language, funeral rites, etc. We have to discover whether the increase in complexity is exclusive to our species or is a process that other species have already experienced or will experience in the future.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"107-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45632766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}