Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Leigh · 11-27-2002, 09:42 AM

In his Discworld novels, Terry Pratchett takes the whole thing to its logical conclusion with 'Homeopathic Beer'....the principle being the less alcohol it contains, the more drunk you are likely to get............or at least, that's what the seller claimed.

It didn't really take off in Discworld circles.

lpetrich · 11-27-2002, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DMB:

... Simon Jenkins -- a former editor of The Times -- even writes regular articles complaining about the fact that children at school are taught science at all. ...

What reasons did he give? If any at all, of course.

Glory · 11-27-2002, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leigh:
In his Discworld novels, Terry Pratchett takes the whole thing to its logical conclusion with 'Homeopathic Beer'....the principle being the less alcohol it contains, the more drunk you are likely to get............or at least, that's what the seller claimed.

It didn't really take off in Discworld circles.

Which book is that? I haven't read that one.

Glory

Corwin · 11-27-2002, 01:08 PM

Quote:

I watched it. Homeopathy is based on the pricipal that you can dilute a substance beyond the point that it has any statistical chance of a molecule of the original substance being in it, yet still produce the same effects as the original substance.

Not true, and in fact hasn't been true for a long time.

Homeopathy is based on the idea that a condition can be treated with something that causes the same symptoms. An example (from modern medicine... gee... go fig...) would be? Allergy treatments. Expose someone to their allergen or something very similar to their allergen.... and you key the immune system to build up a resistance to it. Vaccines operate on essentially the same premise.

Mad Kally · 11-27-2002, 01:15 PM

Quote:

posted by LordSnooty:
Actually, that first thread is quite shocking. A large number of otherwise rational people seem quite happy to believe that homeopathy might have some real effects. It's the reverse of the usual atheist/theist situation, with the 'freethinkers' sticking up for a silly delusion.

See Exhibit A below:

Quote:

posted by Corwin:
Homeopathy is based on the idea that a condition can be treated with something that causes the same symptoms. An example (from modern medicine... gee... go fig...) would be? Allergy treatments. Expose someone to their allergen or something very similar to their allergen.... and you key the immune system to build up a resistance to it. Vaccines operate on essentially the same premise.

Corwin · 11-27-2002, 01:18 PM

What exactly would your point be Kal? Aside from your knee-jerk reaction to anything that sounds even vaguely 'nontraditional?'

LordSnooty · 11-27-2002, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corwin:


Not true, and in fact hasn't been true for a long time.

Actually, it's totally true. What are you talking about? Do you have any evidence for such a weird claim?

Quote:

Homeopathy is based on the idea that a condition can be treated with something that causes the same symptoms. An example (from modern medicine... gee... go fig...) would be? Allergy treatments. Expose someone to their allergen or something very similar to their allergen.... and you key the immune system to build up a resistance to it. Vaccines operate on essentially the same premise.

You are absolutely wrong. Dilution is an essential aspect of homeopathic treatment.

Paul

Oxymoron · 11-27-2002, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corwin:


Not true, and in fact hasn't been true for a long time.

Homeopathy is based on the idea that a condition can be treated with something that causes the same symptoms. An example (from modern medicine... gee... go fig...) would be? Allergy treatments. Expose someone to their allergen or something very similar to their allergen.... and you key the immune system to build up a resistance to it. Vaccines operate on essentially the same premise.

Yes, that's exactly the view that was discredited on Horizon!

Corwin · 11-27-2002, 01:34 PM

Quote:

You are absolutely wrong. Dilution is an essential aspect of homeopathic treatment.

Paul

According to who precisely?

If you're working with potent substances of COURSE they have to be diluted some. (In the case of allergens, particularly with regards to drug allergies, giving someone a full dose will likely kill them...) But these days who endorses complete dilution?

Oh that's right... it doesn't matter. 150 year old speculations are current fact.

While we're at it why don't we just go ahead and disprove evolution? I mean... that whole 'embryonic gill slit' thing is just bogus.

For that matter to hell with this whole 'physics' thing... we all KNOW that there aren't four basic elements.

Mad Kally · 11-27-2002, 01:37 PM

Quote:

posted by Corwin:
Oh that's right... it doesn't matter. 150 year old speculations are current fact.

Be sure to tap the bottle on a piece of leather or it won't work.

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11-27-2002, 09:42 AM	#11
Leigh Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: England Posts: 27	In his Discworld novels, Terry Pratchett takes the whole thing to its logical conclusion with 'Homeopathic Beer'....the principle being the less alcohol it contains, the more drunk you are likely to get............or at least, that's what the seller claimed. It didn't really take off in Discworld circles.

11-27-2002, 01:18 PM	#16
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	What exactly would your point be Kal? Aside from your knee-jerk reaction to anything that sounds even vaguely 'nontraditional?'

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