I am interested in learning more about this, but not sure what “woo” means; after googling, is it right to interpret as “unconventional beliefs” of some sort?
It’s short for “woo-woo”, a derogatory term skeptics use for magical thinking.
I think the word originates as onomatopoeia from the haunting woo-woo Theremin sounds played in black-and-white horror films when the ghost was about to appear. It’s what the “supernatural” sounds like, I guess.
It’s not about the belief being unconventional as much as it being irrational. Just because we don’t understand how something works doesn’t mean it doesn’t work (it just probably doesn’t), but we can still call your reasons for thinking so invalid. A classic skeptic might dismiss anything associated categorically, but rationalists judge by the preponderance of the evidence. Some superstitions are valid. Prescientific cultures may still have learned true things, even if they can’t express them well to outsiders.
Ah thanks. Do you know why these former rationalists were “more accepting” of irrational thinking? And to be extremely clear, does “irrational” here mean not following one’s preference with their actions, and not truth seeking when forming beliefs?
I am interested in learning more about this, but not sure what “woo” means; after googling, is it right to interpret as “unconventional beliefs” of some sort?
It’s short for “woo-woo”, a derogatory term skeptics use for magical thinking.
I think the word originates as onomatopoeia from the haunting woo-woo Theremin sounds played in black-and-white horror films when the ghost was about to appear. It’s what the “supernatural” sounds like, I guess.
It’s not about the belief being unconventional as much as it being irrational. Just because we don’t understand how something works doesn’t mean it doesn’t work (it just probably doesn’t), but we can still call your reasons for thinking so invalid. A classic skeptic might dismiss anything associated categorically, but rationalists judge by the preponderance of the evidence. Some superstitions are valid. Prescientific cultures may still have learned true things, even if they can’t express them well to outsiders.
Ah thanks. Do you know why these former rationalists were “more accepting” of irrational thinking? And to be extremely clear, does “irrational” here mean not following one’s preference with their actions, and not truth seeking when forming beliefs?