ശാസ്ത്രീയ മനോവൃത്തിയും അന്ധവിശ്വാസങ്ങളും-Scientific temper and certain popular superstitions. Dr C Viswanathan
In this talk to college students, Dr.Viswanathan first looks at the history of science education in India and argues that spread of scientific knowledge has the potential to change "story based worldview" of traditional societies into "science based worldview". It is being now widely recognized that nature has no inherent moral order and this increases the responsibility of us humans towards our species and to other living beings. Today, the world view of an educated person should be science based, and this world view should determine his/ her moral and ethical positions. In the words of Nehru, "The scientific approach and temper are, or should be, a way of life, a process of thinking, a method of acting and associating with our fellowmen. ....The scientific temper points out the way along which man should travel. It is the temper of a free man"
Cropping up of newer and newer superstitions is an indicator of the lack of scientific temper in our society . A few such modern day superstitions are briefly discussed.
The fraudulent practice of "midbrain activation", purportedly enabling children to read blind folded, the hoax of "sun- gazing", supposedly providing people the ability to directly utilize solar energy,and the illusion of "touchless knockout" in martial arts are discussed, as also mentalism. Mentalism in fact is just“Magic tricks with some mental flavour” , but many people believe that Mentalists have supernatural powers. In reality, the tricks of mentalism are more or less similar to other more 'routine' magic tricks.
It is explained that a mentalist is just another performer 'who uses trickery and deception to create the illusion of having paranormal or supernatural powers'.
Venue: Mar Thoma College, Chungathara, Nilambur. Date: 1.03.2017
1 июл 2017
