The mother lode of skepticism

“Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science” by Martin Gardner is something of a classic. Published already in 1957, Gardner's thorough-going study of pseudo-scientific cranks and cultists still feels fresh. It has also inspired a number of later books. Reading it I realized that both Patrick Moore and Poul Fersling borrow heavily from Gardner, to the point of plagiarism. (Fersling is a Danish author whose encyclopedia of the paranormal is popular in Sweden.) It's hardly surprising that Gardner went on to became a prominent member of the skeptical organization CSICOP. His book could almost be described as the mother lode of skepticism!

What makes Gardner worth reading today is that many of the “fads and fallacies” he describes and attacks are still thriving: homeopathy, Velikovskianism, Dianetics, young earth creationism, Forteanism, the search for Atlantis and parapsychology comes to mind. Since I'm not an orthodox skeptic, I happen to believe in *some* of the supposed fallacies included in the book. For instance, I'm more positive towards parapsychology than the author. I'm also interested in some “occult” subjects mentioned only in passing. To keep the book manageable, Gardner has concentrated on ideas which claim to be scientific, something outright esotericism does not. That being said, I think Gardner's tome can act as a “reality check” on those of us who like to linger on the fringe.

The book is frequently entertaining, so even the chapters on crank ideas long discarded are worth reading. These include doodlebugs, Lawsonism, Reich's speculations on Orgone Energy, the medical ideas of William Horatio Bates, the “Biblical” Flat Earthism of Reverend Dowie, and the absolutely crazy idea that we live *inside* a hollow earth! Further, Gardner mentions Welt Eis Lehre, promoted by the Nazis, and Lysenkoism, promoted by the Soviets under Stalin. The example of Lysenko shows that pseudo-science can get political influence, with disastrous results, even in a supposedly “rational” and secular system. On some points, Gardner guessed wrong – thus, he believed that the UFO craze was essentially over and would become a purely occult thing. In reality, it went on to become the 20th century's most enduring folk belief! Crypto-zoology isn't mentioned at all, but this was before the Bigfoot craze triggered by the Patterson-Gimlin film.

“Facts and Fallacies in the Name of Science” will probably remain in print for some time, and *should* remain in print. While somebody who is before his time inevitably end up on the fringe, there are many people who end up there for, shall we say, other reasons. Gardner may not always be right, but at least he has given us a useful map of the far side…

Five stars.