The fine art of baloney detection

About this event

Welcome to “**Skeptic Dinners**,” a series of events facilitated by Prof. [Massimo Pigliucci](https://figsinwintertime.substack.com/), a philosopher and biologist at the City College of New York. The idea is similar to that of the [Ancient Greek symposia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium): let’s get a small number of like-minded people together over drinks and food and discuss interesting subjects! *** Three decades ago the astronomer and skeptic Carl Sagan published his famous essay on baloney detection, part of his book [The Demon-Haunted World](https://bookshop.org/a/80309/9780345409461), subtitled "Science as a Candle in the Dark." For this discussion, we revisit Sagan's baloney detection kit and update it a bit on the basis of an article written by Massimo Pigliucci for a recent issue of Skeptical Inquirer. Suggested readings / viewing: \* The Fine Art of Baloney Detection—Sagan’s Essay Three Decades Later (available for [free download as pdf here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pegsgii5r4srdtyb3nixh/The-Fine-Art-of-Baloney-Detection-Sagan-s-Essay-Three-Decades-Later-Skeptical-Inquirer.PDF?rlkey=7py4zqz5pck0pwim2u0jzlj64&st=n39grbyp&dl=0)) \*\*\* NOTE: **new location!** Also NOTE: Since these are dinner events at a restaurant, which require reservations, **you are expected to consume some food**. Also please **treat your rsvp seriously** and update it if you decide not to come. If you don’t and we end up with empty seats, **you may be barred from some of the next meeting**. Thanks for understanding!