Common Misconceptions: Difference between revisions
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Unlike [[common sense]] which may arguably be uncommon, the aptly termed '''common misconceptions''' are quite common as everyone holds some erroneous belief or misunderstanding regarding any of various aspects of life. They are all too common with disregard to level of education, profession, or social status. These misconceptions and logical [[fallacies]] may be closely guarded and at times adamantly defended (often with more misconceptions) due to one or more reasons. These may be as benign as lack of understanding about the nature of things, simplified misrepresentation of complex issues or natural phenomenon, [[miscommunication]] or linguistic barriers, or they can be the result of active agency [[disinformation]] and institutional [[propaganda]]. |
Unlike [[common sense]] which may arguably be uncommon, the aptly termed '''common misconceptions''' are quite common as everyone holds some erroneous belief or misunderstanding regarding any of various aspects of life. They are all too common with disregard to level of education, profession, or social status. These misconceptions and logical [[fallacies]] may be closely guarded and at times adamantly defended (often with more misconceptions) due to one or more reasons. These may be as benign as lack of understanding about the nature of things, simplified misrepresentation of complex issues or natural phenomenon, [[miscommunication]] or linguistic barriers, or they can be the result of active agency [[disinformation]] and institutional [[propaganda]]. |
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However, it is important to note that there is a major difference between a misconception about the physical universe, its functions and relationships, than that of practiced [[belief systems]] by numerous people around the world. Belief systems in general may not be subject to the same type of reasoning due to the nature of the adopted system, often relying on symbolism and authoritative interpretations. |
However, it is important to note that there is a major difference between a misconception about the physical universe, its functions and relationships, than that of practiced [[belief systems]] by numerous people around the world. Belief systems in general may not be subject to the same type of reasoning due to the nature of the adopted system, often relying on symbolism and [[authority|authoritative]] interpretations. |
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Definition of used terminology is certainly a factor in any instance. Common misconceptions can be the product of ambiguous term usage that denotes [[relativism]]. For example, a possible made claim that '[[Humans]] are intelligent creatures, while [[starfish]] are not.' depends on one's definition of the term [[intelligence]]. If intelligence is defined as 'The capacity to learn from experience and adapt to the environment.', then all living and evolving creatures can fall under that description or definition. In such case, the degree of intelligence as defined by further clarifications, such as tool usage or symbolic thought, is needed to enhance the meaning of made claims. |
Definition of used terminology is certainly a factor in any instance. Common misconceptions can be the product of ambiguous term usage that denotes [[relativism]]. For example, a possible made claim that '[[Humans]] are intelligent creatures, while [[starfish]] are not.' depends on one's definition of the term [[intelligence]]. If intelligence is defined as 'The capacity to learn from experience and adapt to the environment.', then all living and evolving creatures can fall under that description or definition. In such case, the degree of intelligence as defined by further clarifications, such as tool usage or symbolic thought, is needed to enhance the meaning of made claims. |
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Common misconceptions can become so crystallized in a society’s perception that any attempt at correction may be faced with vehement reactions. The great [[Socrates]] made it his life mission to promote better reasoning by the public in order to dispel very common misconceptions of his time, and was persecuted for it. |
Common misconceptions can become so crystallized in a society’s perception that any attempt at correction may be faced with vehement reactions. The great [[Socrates]] made it his life mission to promote better reasoning by the public in order to dispel very common misconceptions of his time, and was persecuted for it. |
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As members of a [[society]] or social groups, there’s a natural tendency to follow the leader and abandon independent thinking, analogous to synchronized preprogrammed robots in a row. There’s safety in numbers and rarely do people want to step out of line or be singled out. Strong tones of [[nationalism]] with [[patriotic]] fervors are a good example of this attitude and its negative potentials. All too often, there's a sense of complacency and hesitation to question authority. When confronted with an alternative view to their preconceived notions and misconceptions, many individuals may exclaim "Who cares?", "Why does it matter?", or "It's not that important". Thus, in dismissing presented facts, they may be reluctant to do the research for themselves, perhaps thinking that if it was important enough, it would be corrected and made available to the public by the media, including [[Wikipedia]]! |
As members of a [[society]] or social groups, there’s a natural tendency to follow the leader and abandon independent thinking, analogous to synchronized preprogrammed robots in a row. There’s safety in numbers and rarely do people want to step out of line or be singled out. Strong tones of [[nationalism]] with [[patriotic]] fervors are a good example of this attitude and its negative potentials. All too often, there's a sense of complacency and hesitation to question [[authority]]. When confronted with an alternative view to their preconceived notions and misconceptions, many individuals may exclaim "Who cares?", "Why does it matter?", or "It's not that important". Thus, in dismissing presented facts, they may be reluctant to do the research for themselves, perhaps thinking that if it was important enough, it would be corrected and made available to the public by the media, including [[Wikipedia]]! |
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==How to dismiss or make exact== |
==How to dismiss or make exact== |
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The [[Inca]] used a method of knots for recording and transmitting speech known as [[Quipu]], while the [[Maya peoples|Mayan]] and [[Aztec]] used [[pictographs]]. [[Cahokia]], [[Tenochtitlan]], and [[Teotihuacan]] were some of the major cities in pre-Columbian North America. Numerous Incan cities are also well known by historians. |
The [[Inca]] used a method of knots for recording and transmitting speech known as [[Quipu]], while the [[Maya peoples|Mayan]] and [[Aztec]] used [[pictographs]]. [[Cahokia]], [[Tenochtitlan]], and [[Teotihuacan]] were some of the major cities in pre-Columbian North America. Numerous Incan cities are also well known by historians. |
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===[[Frogs]] and [[toads]] are just as different as [[turtles]] and [[tortoises]], or [[butterflies]] and [[moths]].=== |
===[[Frogs]] and [[toads]] are just as different from one another as are [[turtles]] and [[tortoises]], or [[butterflies]] and [[moths]].=== |
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Biologically, there is no specific difference between these labeled paired groups. |
Biologically, there is no specific difference between these labeled paired groups. |
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Revision as of 19:21, 7 July 2016
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Unlike common sense which may arguably be uncommon, the aptly termed common misconceptions are quite common as everyone holds some erroneous belief or misunderstanding regarding any of various aspects of life. They are all too common with disregard to level of education, profession, or social status. These misconceptions and logical fallacies may be closely guarded and at times adamantly defended (often with more misconceptions) due to one or more reasons. These may be as benign as lack of understanding about the nature of things, simplified misrepresentation of complex issues or natural phenomenon, miscommunication or linguistic barriers, or they can be the result of active agency disinformation and institutional propaganda.
However, it is important to note that there is a major difference between a misconception about the physical universe, its functions and relationships, than that of practiced belief systems by numerous people around the world. Belief systems in general may not be subject to the same type of reasoning due to the nature of the adopted system, often relying on symbolism and authoritative interpretations.
Definition of used terminology is certainly a factor in any instance. Common misconceptions can be the product of ambiguous term usage that denotes relativism. For example, a possible made claim that 'Humans are intelligent creatures, while starfish are not.' depends on one's definition of the term intelligence. If intelligence is defined as 'The capacity to learn from experience and adapt to the environment.', then all living and evolving creatures can fall under that description or definition. In such case, the degree of intelligence as defined by further clarifications, such as tool usage or symbolic thought, is needed to enhance the meaning of made claims.
How they spread and take hold
Common misconceptions are often propagated inadvertently by parents transmitting false info to the next generation, the education system, the news media, popular media, or an authoritative figure or institution. At times, a simple misuse or omission of a key term can drastically change the overall concept or meaning of what is related. Info often changes as it gets farther away from its source or down the line through second-hand, third-hand related info, and so on. In other instances, personal understanding of the history of a subject can influence how the info is related to another with disregard to facts. Many misconceptions can be the product of personal bias or have an ethnocentric origin.
Common misconceptions can become so crystallized in a society’s perception that any attempt at correction may be faced with vehement reactions. The great Socrates made it his life mission to promote better reasoning by the public in order to dispel very common misconceptions of his time, and was persecuted for it.
As members of a society or social groups, there’s a natural tendency to follow the leader and abandon independent thinking, analogous to synchronized preprogrammed robots in a row. There’s safety in numbers and rarely do people want to step out of line or be singled out. Strong tones of nationalism with patriotic fervors are a good example of this attitude and its negative potentials. All too often, there's a sense of complacency and hesitation to question authority. When confronted with an alternative view to their preconceived notions and misconceptions, many individuals may exclaim "Who cares?", "Why does it matter?", or "It's not that important". Thus, in dismissing presented facts, they may be reluctant to do the research for themselves, perhaps thinking that if it was important enough, it would be corrected and made available to the public by the media, including Wikipedia!
How to dismiss or make exact
In order to analyze new information efficiently, one needs an introductory base with some previously obtained facts, or familiarity with a certain subject. It also helps to be skilled with logic and analytical or critical thinking to make sound judgments. Although some authorities may be responsible for misconceptions, we often look towards a certain subject authority and their expertise to relieve any misunderstanding regarding that subject. For it is through a system of nuance scrutiny, research, evidence comparison, and the scientific method that clarifications are met. It is also important for each individual to assess and critique received information to a degree that it forms a solid basis. Ultimately, the pieces of information have to fit together without opposing contradictions, as dictated by logical Consistency and Natural laws.
Samples
Below is a short list of some common misconceptions of various subjects (which can easily be added to) with no specific order, followed by brief clarifications. Keep in mind, the wording of each statement is often crucial in detecting a fallacy or false claim.
Some Common Misconceptions
Christopher Columbus was the first European who discovered the New World (Americas).
There is much debate regarding the ethnicity of the first European arrivals to the New World. However, it is proved by modern archeology that the Norse had a settlement in Newfoundland Canada some 500 years before Columbus.
By discovering the Americas, Columbus also proved that the Earth was not flat as previously believed.
Some historians used the work of the American fiction writer Washington Irving's biography of Christopher Columbus as the source of this erroneous idea without doing the research.
Penguins are Antarctic creatures, and some live in New Zealand closer to the equator.
Native North Americans had no conception of land ownership.
The numerous sedentary indigenous North American tribes and nations, like all people, had a strong sense of territorial land and would defend their resources when necessary. Migrating tribes also had a sense of undesignated borders. However, they were not accustomed to drafted land deeds and signing away property, and were thus susceptible to swindling.
The original Native Americans crossed the Bering Strait bridge connecting Russia and Alaska.
Modern archeology and genetics dispute this notion as concrete. Island hoping across the Pacific Ocean or along sea shores is a more likely theory as the original habitation of the New World. Also, genetic diversity hints to multiple routes and successions.
Earth is farthest away from its orbit around the Sun in Winter and is thus colder during the season.
Planet Earth is closets in its orbit around the Sun on January 3rd, known as perihelion. The seasons are determined by the Earth's tilt of axis and hemispheric positioning.
Most sea life lives near continental margins to a depth of some 200 feet where sunlight can penetrate.
Although there is a concentration of life near some land margins, the sheer volume of oceans and their deep sea inhabitants far more exceed that of land margins, both in numbers and biomass.
The Ancient Greeks invented geometry and sciences.
One only needs to point to the geometry of the ancient Egyptian pyramids that predate Greek geometry to dispel this notion. Many other sciences such as physics and chemistry were introduced by later civilizations.
Street lights and sewer systems did not exist till about 200 years ago.
Ancient India, Persia, Rome, and China were some of the civilizations with sewer systems. Ancient Chinese, Romans, and Greeks were known to have street lighting.
Indigenous Americans were tribal people with no recorded language or major cities.
The Inca used a method of knots for recording and transmitting speech known as Quipu, while the Mayan and Aztec used pictographs. Cahokia, Tenochtitlan, and Teotihuacan were some of the major cities in pre-Columbian North America. Numerous Incan cities are also well known by historians.
Frogs and toads are just as different from one another as are turtles and tortoises, or butterflies and moths.
Biologically, there is no specific difference between these labeled paired groups.
While dogs are social in nature, cats tend to be solitary animals.
Lions and house cats are social felines.
Wars stimulate production and inventions, and thus provide economic growth.
While certain sectors of industry and public benefit from wartime economy, the nation's economy as a whole suffers while tax funds are diverted and spent on destruction.
The Spanish conquest led to the extinction of the Aztec and Mayan cultures.
The Mayan cultural decline predates Spanish conquests, and both the Aztec and Maya cultures still exist.
Gregor Mendel discovered that some plants and animals could be hybridized.
Plants and animals have been hybridized since ancient times. Mandel discovered some of the processes that enable hybridization.
Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb.
Edison improved this earlier invention, with the help of numerous hired technicians.
Neanderthals probably became extinct at the hands of more evolved Homo sapiens.
There is no archeological evidence of this. In fact, some of the evidence points to periods of cohabitation.
While conifers keep their needles throughout the year, broadleaf plants drop leaves in Winter.
While this pertains mostly to temperate regions, evergreen angiosperms include much of equatorial tropical plants that remain green throughout the year.
Sharks are saltwater predators, while alligators live in freshwater habitats.
There are saltwater crocodiles as well as sharks that can tolerate freshwater, such as Bull Shark.
Due to the extreme cold, only warm blooded animals can survive in the Arctic and Antarctic.
Fish are cold blooded and are abundant in the polar regions. There's also known Arctic frogs and spiders that can freeze and thaw back to life.
All plants need soil, water, and sunlight to flourish.
Aside from hydroponics, most Tillandsia species (Airplants) do not need soil or any sort of planting medium.
A penny dropped from a tall high-rise can pick up enough speed to seriously injure a street level bystander.
Due to air resistance, a penny dropped from even a higher elevation will flip numerous times and slow down on its way and may cause a minor bruise at worst.
Ancient Romans built Rome and invented the Roman republic, aqueducts, and gladiators.
Etruscan civilization, predating the Romans, are responsible for much of what is attributed to early Roman origin.
The concept of socialism had existed since ancient times, as in the example of Sparta. Marx is the founder of 'modern' socialism.
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