Home > Science and Skepticism > Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Proof

Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Proof Skeptics often refer to what they call Occam's Razor. They interpret this as ‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof’. In other words, if someone does an experiment that seems to prove mind reading ability this would require much more stringent verification then, say, an experiment designed to show the feeding habits of ants in a particular environment. Put another way this dictum says ‘never question your existing worldview’. It has also been interpreted as ‘having made up your mind, don’t be dissuaded by facts’. It is obvious, for example, that something similar to clairvoyance can be performed by what is called cold reading. In cold reading, the practitioner makes some general statements and watches the response. Then, by making more statements and maybe asking some very general questions the practitioner can home in on some points that make him appear to the naive person as having supernatural powers. The fact that cold reading (sometimes) works does not mean that all clairvoyance use cold reading. In fact, it is very easy to attend a session with a good psychic and not give anything away. You don’t answer, or even respond to, any questions. In fact, I would be highly suspicious if a psychic asked any questions. So why don’t the skeptics do this? The short answer is, sometimes they do. And sometimes, as a result cease to be skeptics. Others prefer to whinge on the sidelines but would go to any lengths to avoid having to question their worldview.