TED Community » Zac Thomas

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Can people who deny science be educated? How?

  Feb 28 2011: It is not nessesarily bad that they question the truthiness of something. There is a lot of bad science out there. Scientific reseach could prove that doing the rain dance every day at noon cures cancer if you get a sample size of one student. There was 'scientific research' that claimed that looking at erotic images makes people more able to predict the future. This was accomplished by setting up an experiment where a person would look at erotic images (or not, if in control group), then guess whether a light to the left would light up, or if one on the right would light up. ~53% of people guessed correctedly after looking at said images, and ~49% guessed correctly with out looking at the images. I don't really need to explain what is wrong with this situation.
  
  Anyway, the point is that 'known' truths in science are just temporary explantions for what happens. These explanations only last until a new explanation, which works better, is formed. Therefore, I recomend that you encourage independent thought, and explain that science is just the best explanation that we currently have available, and does not nessesarily correctly explain every possible situation. I think this will be the most effective tool for making your point.
  
  Best of Wishes

• A comment on Conversation: What about TED-based clubs in schools? TED-based classes?

  Feb 28 2011: Well, I support the idea, but I am unsure how to implement it. For example, what makes some one qualified to 'teach' a TED class? The political side of teaching would get in the way on the class part, in my opinion. Part of the problem is that it requires a very high level of participation to work. This couldn't be like the average high school class, it would have to be actively thinking intellectuals, which tend to be few and far between.