But isn't that the most extraordinary thing. He seriously seems to believe that this is an important project when all his, let's be generous, gross distortions of historical truth are slave to an attempt to create a giant appeal to antiquity and appeal to authority fallacy. And this was from someone who wanted to discuss research that would apparently knock our socks off and open our eyes, only to trot out the familiar sad parade of usual suspects.
Unfortunately his vast expertise does not seem to render him capable of having a coherent opinion about these questions;
So, I return to your clinical evidence base;
4. Can you tell us whether either of these machines works?
http://www.bio-resonance.com/elybra.htm
http://www.remedydevices.com/voice.htm
Bear in mind that the users of these machines rely on exactly the same anecdotal experience and fallacious post hoc reasoning that every other homeopath does. Are the homeopaths who use these machines right or wrong in thinking they work?
It's a very simple question and capable of a single-word answer.
I'll give you a new question just so you can show how well you understand the interpretation of clinical trial data;
9. I set a p-value for significance of 0.05 and run 100 trials. In no trial is the test substance distinguishable from the control. How many trials can I expect to show an apparent "effect" from my test substance?
I think I have said this before, but when I first started paying serious attention to homeopathy I was very circumspect in my opinions and cautious with my criticisms. I sort of wondered whether I would meet an intelligent homeopath who had thought through the problems I perceived and had well-reasoned responses. That has never happened and I have now interacted with some who seem to be regarded as the best in their field. The more I have seen the more they have sickened me with their resistance to rational argument, constant use of fallacious reasoning and knee-jerk resort to censorship of contrary opinions. They literally personify all that they claim to be the worst in the world of conventional medicine as caricatured by them.
When I feel generous I pity them for wasting their lives on this bunch of hooey. Imagine getting to the Pearly Gates and finding St Peter doubled up with mirth at them having piddled away their earthly existence with this nonsense. Though the more likely destination would be somewhere hotter and more sulphurous.
