Editing 808: The Economic Argument
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | The image shows fields of human life that would be greatly improved and/or | + | The image shows fields of human life that would be greatly improved and/or allowed a certain people to make a lot of money if some "weird phenomena" things (mostly {{w|paranormal}}) actually worked in reality or were testable and usable concepts. "Weird phenomena", in this case, means counter-intuitive things that usually go against "common sense" and which the science hasn't investigated to the full yet (or didn't find any evidence of in the first place, making claims completely unscientific). As the comic tries to prove, if there were commercial use for it and proofs of it working, there will be high investment made in the technology to use and harness such concepts. |
− | So far only {{w|Theory of relativity|relativity}} and {{w|quantum electrodynamics}} have | + | So far, only {{w|Theory of relativity|relativity}} and {{w|quantum electrodynamics}} have found some use in the real world because they are scientific concepts, as compared to all the other ones. |
− | + | Specifically, the theory of relativity allows your {{w|Global Positioning System|Global Positioning System (GPS)}} device to synchronize with satellites a hundred miles in the air and show your current position. | |
− | + | The design of modern circuit-boards and other electronic devices is influenced by quantum electrodynamics — smartphones or high capacity hard drives wouldn't be possible without that theory. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | The non-scientific, disproved concepts trying to pass as real and scientific are as follows: | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | *'''{{w|Astrology}}:''' Trying to predict the future by studying the motions of the planets for answers | + | *'''{{w|Remote viewing}}:''' Alleged ability to see and know things far away with the strength of your mind, without physically being in that place and using technology (cameras, TV screens and so on). |
+ | *'''{{w|Dowsing}}:''' Alleged supernatural ability to sense, using two dowsing rods/sticks/pieces of metal where hidden valuables or underground water/oil supplies are. | ||
+ | **Both dowsing and remote viewing would have greatly cut costs to oil companies, because it would have made finding new oil sources easier. | ||
+ | |||
+ | *'''{{w|Aura (paranormal)|Auras}}:''' Non-scientific belief that every human has invisible "energy field" that can affect their health and feelings. | ||
+ | *'''{{w|Homeopathy}}:''' Non-scientific belief that the more diluted a remedy, the more effective it is, and that the remedy should, before dilution, cause similar symptoms to the disease it is said to cure. These "remedies" are often diluted so much that, on average, not even a single molecule of the original substance will remain. It is completely untrue and proven no more effective than a placebo, so one can instead use much cheaper glucose and have the same effect. It is often advertised as an "alternative medicine", which means it is not a medicine at all. | ||
+ | *'''{{w|Prayer#Prayer_healing|Remote Prayer}}:''' Non-scientific belief. Trying to help a person with their health problems by praying/pleading to a greater supernatural force to help them get better. While we're not ones to rag on anybody's religion, we don't have scientific proof or empirical evidence of it working; such prayer may sometimes have a ''detrimental'' effect if the person knew they were prayed for. | ||
+ | **All three would have revolutionized healthcare if proven to work, which is very, very unlikely. | ||
+ | |||
+ | *'''{{w|Astrology}}:''' Trying to predict the future by studying the motions of the planets for answers. Non-scientific and very popular belief that tries to look scientific; was a major focus of {{w|astronomy}} until science began to disprove it in the 1600s. | ||
*'''{{w|Divinatory, esoteric and occult tarot|Tarot}}:''' Trying to predict the future through dealing a {{w|Tarot deck|special deck of cards}}. | *'''{{w|Divinatory, esoteric and occult tarot|Tarot}}:''' Trying to predict the future through dealing a {{w|Tarot deck|special deck of cards}}. | ||
**Both would have revolutionized our business planning, saving lots of money and lives, if true. | **Both would have revolutionized our business planning, saving lots of money and lives, if true. | ||
Line 33: | Line 37: | ||
**If it were true, the military use of such would have proliferated rather quickly. | **If it were true, the military use of such would have proliferated rather quickly. | ||
− | The title text points out that many people still believe in non-scientific, unproven, and disproved phenomena | + | The title text points out that many people still believe in non-scientific, unproven, and disproved phenomena. Thus, it's possible to make a lot of money by selling those (claimed) phenomena to such people. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[A three-column | + | :[A three-column table.] |
− | |||
:{| class="wikitable alternance" | :{| class="wikitable alternance" | ||
Line 78: | Line 81: | ||
| Relativity | | Relativity | ||
| GPS Devices | | GPS Devices | ||
− | + | | ✓ | |
|- | |- | ||
| Quantum<br/>Electrodynamics | | Quantum<br/>Electrodynamics | ||
| Semiconductor<br/>Circuit Design | | Semiconductor<br/>Circuit Design | ||
− | + | | ✓ | |
|} | |} | ||
− | :Eventually, arguing that these things work means arguing that modern capitalism isn't | + | :Eventually, arguing that these things work means arguing that modern capitalism isn't THAT ruthlessly profit-focused. |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
[[Category:Physics]] | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
− |