THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE. CASE #1. USS CYCLOPS. PT 5.

The Disappearance of the CYCLOPS, While Tragic, was never considered to be an Exceptional Event, Unparalleled in Maritime History. The Loss of a Ship, without a Definitive Cause, is not an Extreme Rarity.  The Fate of Many Ships, Lost Through The Centuries, have never been Satisfactorily Explained.

The CYCLOPS did indeed Disappear, but like so many other MISSING SHIPS, PLANES, PEOPLE ETC., THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDE THAT IT WAS CAUSED IN A PARTICULAR MANNER.  MOST LIKELY, IT WAS A SERIES OF INCIDENTS, COUPLED WITH CONDITIONS THAT DEVELOPED DURING THE VOYAGE, THAT LED TO THE DISASTER.

However, this does not Mean the Following,  A LINE OF REASONING OFTEN USED BY SUPPORTERS OF THE PARANORMAL AND PSEUDOSCIENCE:

SINCE THE EXACT CAUSE(S) IS UNKNOWN, WE CAN SPECULATE THAT MAYBE UFOS, CRYPTIDS, OTHER DIMENSIONS, THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS etc., are possible causes.

Yes, and Maybe it was the JOLLY GREEN GIANT, THE LIVING DEAD, SEA MONKEYS, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN... ON AD NAUSEAM.  THERE IS NO MORE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE TRUE, OR NOT TRUE, THAN THE USUAL FRINGE EXPLANATIONS TROTTED OUT BY THOSE PEDDLING THE PARANORMAL IN BOOKS, MAGAZINES, TV SHOWS, RADIO...

THE INABILITY TO PIN DOWN, WITH A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY, THE 

EXACT CAUSES, DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T EXIST.  WHY?

LOGIC, CRITICAL THINKING AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD DON'T 

WORK ON UNJUSTIFIED ASSUMPTIONS, BAD EVIDENCE, AND WILD 

SPECULATIONS WITH NO REASONABLE PLAUSIBILITY OF OCCURRENCE.

We'll look at the Some of the More Rational Explanations Regarding the Loss

of the CYCLOPS in the next Post.

THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD.

THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE.  PT 5.

As I said in Part 4, there are things that are not revealed in a story you may read about a case involving the Bermuda Triangle, that give an indication about the "Reality" of the facts given in the story.

For example, in my sample story the Abandoned Schooner "ALBATROSS", was searched and then left to the Elements.  This would probably have never happened in a True Story.  

Maritime Salvage Laws would have allowed a Prize Crew to be placed Aboard the Deserted Vessel, who would then Sail the Ship into Port. This would mean a Substantial Reward for the Captain and Crew of the "JUPITER", either from the Owners, or the Insurance carried against loss.  Leaving a Seaworthy Ship in the Middle of the Ocean would make little sense. 

Getting back to the story itself, there is other information not given that would cast doubt about the Details being a Road Map to the Truth.

How so?

-  We have the Name of the Deserted Ship, and its supposed Destination, but not its Port of Embarkation and Cargo.

-  The Ships Master, and the Current Owners are not revealed.

-  In Fact, other then the Name "ALBATROSS", and that it is a Schooner, nothing else is revealed to aid in Researching the Event of its Disappearance.  Things such as Launch Date, Sailing History, Home Port, and Ownership History are not reported.

This was, of course, a Fictional Story.  However, when you read some of the "Strange Tales of the Sea",  that are included in the Bermuda Triangle Legend, look for Omissions like these, and consider how Plausible the "TRUE STORY" really is.

Look for Specific Examples given in Future Posts.

LOGIC. THE FALLACIES OF: SPECIAL PLEADING, APPEAL TO A HIGHER POWER, LACK OF FAITH, SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. PART 3.

Lets move on to the next two examples.

3)  SUFFERING CAUSED BY LACK OF PROPER ACTION.-  Example.

Person #1-  "Did you hear the latest News Report.  They say that the Hurricane is Bearing down on us, and should hit in the next couple of days. They suggest we evacuate to Inland Areas to avoid the Storm Surge and High Winds.

Person #2-  "There is no need to worry.  I went to Church today, and Prayed for the Safety of Everyone.  Look at Scripture, there are plenty of Prayers that will Ensure that God will intercede on our behalf and keep us free from Harm."  

THIS IS THE "APPEAL TO A GREATER POWER" FALLACY.

4)  DOUBLE STANDARDS IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM.-  Example.

JUDGE-  "We are a Nation of Laws, and each of us must assume the Responsibility for our Actions. By Stealing from your Employer, you put the Business in Danger of Bankruptcy.  In addition, your fellow employees could have lost Their Jobs."

CONVICTED EMBEZZLER-  "In my case, Your Honor, there was a good reason to take the money. Many of the Supervisors and Employees have Gambling and Drinking Problems.  The Lack of Profits would Force them to Prioritize Their take Home Pay, and look to the needs of Family First.  I was helping them."

THIS IS THE "SPECIAL PLEADING" FALLACY. 

Remember, these are not meant to Discourage Faith, or Beliefs that cannot be examined through Academic Methods.  Faith is Personal Choice, and should remain that way.  However, when Actions Dictated by Faith involve the Possible Well- Being of Others, Government has a Duty to Protect those who may Suffer Adverse Consequences of Choices made on Their Behalf.

THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD. THE WORLD OF CRYPTOZOOLOGY. PT 3.

Before you can even begin to Scientifically Justify a Belief in the Existence of a Legendary or Mythological Creature, several Criteria must be met.

1)  What Type of Physical Evidence are you using to back up the Claim? Is it still Available for Study and Analysis by Independent and Qualified Researchers, who have access to the Best Technology?

2)  How was any and all Evidence Obtained?  The Who, What, Where, When and How Set of Questions that can Validate or Invalidate any Conclusions regarding the Reality of the Creature in Question?

3)  Is the Evidence best explained by the Introduction of a Previously Unknown Member of the Natural World, or do the Laws of Probability Indicate a more likely Solution?

4)  To what Degree are you Relying on Anecdotal or Eyewitness Testimony to Support a Conclusion that Asserts the Existence of a Real and Tangible Entry into the Animal Kingdom?

5)  If these Creatures Exist in the Wild, and their numbers are Large Enough to Populate an Extended Area or Region, how many must be living to Overcome the Problem of Genetic Diversity?

Remember, much of what you see on Television regarding Cryptozoology is Virtually Worthless, from a Scientific or Critical Thinking Perspective. Much of the time you are given Stories and Legends that are nothing more than Wild Speculations, repackaged for Mass Market Entertainment.

However, when you Ignore the SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND THE RULES OF LOGIC, YOU ARE LEFT WITH OPINIONS THAT ARE LITTLE MORE THAN EMPTY WORDS.  THESE ARE OFTEN USED TO DUPE THE GULLIBLE AND THE DESPERATE.

A Good Start to Identifying this Line of Irrational Thinking, is to see how they stand up to the Questions that are asked above.

Real Science is done when these, and Other Pertinent Questions are Answered, and not Ignored.

In the next Installment, we will begin looking at the Different Creatures that make up the Cryptozoological World.

END OF PART 3.