Robert Todd Carroll
Robert Todd Carroll (born 1945), Ph.D., is an American writer and academic. Carroll has written several books and skeptical essays but achieved notability by publishing the Skeptic's Dictionary online in 1994.
Early life and education
Carroll earned his PhD in philosophy in 1974 at the University of California, San Diego, writing his doctoral thesis on the religious philosophy of Edward Stillingfleet. It was published in 1975.[1]
Career
Until his retirement in 2007, Carroll was a professor of philosophy at Sacramento City College.
A longtime advocate of atheism, scientific skepticism, and critical thinking, in 1994 Carroll set up the Skeptic's Dictionary website online. It initially consisted of fewer than fifty articles, mostly on logical fallacies and pseudoscience. The site has now grown to several hundred articles, including many on the paranormal and the supernatural. It attracts more than a million visitors per month.[2] Entries from the dictionary have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Carroll's views have attracted numerous interviews for him from mainstream media and local newspapers, such as the Davis Enterprise.[3] In addition, he has been interviewed by representatives of groups promoting scientific skepticism, such as the New England Skeptical Society[4] and Media Man Australia.[5]
In January 2010 Carroll was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry[6]
He is viewed by some commentators in the alternative science community as a pseudoskeptic [7][8] for his alleged dogmatism and scoffing attitude. Some have noted his misrepresentations and fabrications of opponents' arguments.[9]
On May 29, 2011 Carroll led a discussion concerning the "Five Myths About Skeptics" at the 2nd annual SkeptiCalCon event held in Berkeley, CA.[10]
Publications
- Becoming a Critical Thinker – A Guide for the New Millennium, 2nd ed., ISBN 0-536-85934-5.
- The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2003, ISBN 0-471-27242-6.
- The Common-sense Philosophy of Religion of Bishop Edward Stillingfleet 1635–1699, ISBN 90-247-1647-0. (1974 doctoral dissertation, under the direction of Richard Popkin, University of California at San Diego).
See also
Notes
- ^ Robert Todd Carroll, The common-sense philosophy of religion of bishop Edward Stillingfleet 1635–1699, Nijhoff, 1975
- ^ Preface, Skeptic's Dictionary.
- ^ Elizabeth Sherwin, "Author attempts to debunk angels, other 'strange beliefs', Davis Enterprise, 29 Dec 2003
- ^ Perry DeAngelis, "Interview with Robert Todd Carroll", New England Skeptical Society Journal, no article at link
- ^ "Interview with Bob Carrol", Media Man Australia, 21 Apr 2003
- ^ "Sixteen Notable Figures in Science and Skepticism Elected CSI Fellows". Retrieved 2011-08-07.
- ^ http://www.sces.info/skepdic-com.html
- ^ [1],Technically Correct Pseudo-Refutation
- ^ http://www.sces.info/skepdic-com.html
- ^ "SkeptiCalCon 2011". 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
External links
- The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions
- The Skeptic's Refuge
- Skeptic's Dictionary Newsletter, May 2, 2002 to present
- Who's Who Online
- Skeptic's Dictionary For Kids, Released August 4, 2011
Articles and essays
- Skeptical Essays by Carroll
- Swift: Online Newsletter of the JREF James Randi Educational Foundation newsletter written by Carroll, March 17, 2006
- Pranks, Frauds, and Hoaxes from Around the World by Carroll, Skeptical Inquirer, July 2004
- Critical Thinking and Control Groups by Carroll for Inquiring Minds, a CSICOP website
- What if Gary Schwartz is right? by Carroll on Gary Schwartz, at Freethinker, mukto-mona.com, a Bengali humanist website
- Keep on Doubting by Roy Herbert, New Scientist Print Edition, Nov. 22, 2003
- The Incomplete Skeptic by Gary Jason, Liberty, Oct. 2005
- Richard Milton, critical response to The Skeptic's Dictionary
- Terrence J. Sandbek, "Co-opting Alternative Medicine – The Psychology of Alternative Medicine", Bay Area Skeptics
Interviews
- Greg Tingle, "Interview with Bob Carrol", Media Man Australia, Apr. 24, 2003
- Bob Carroll – "Defining Skepticism" on Point of Inquiry, April 16, 2010.
- Swoopy; Colanduno, Derek (August 23, 2005), "Ep. #17 - Interview: w/Bob Carroll of Skepdic", Skepticality, Skeptic Magazine, retrieved November 27, 2011
{{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|1=and|2=(help) - Swoopy; Colanduno, Derek (February 3, 2006), "Ep. #29 - The Scary Q-Link and Bob Carroll from TAM 4", Skepticality, Skeptic Magazine, retrieved November 27, 2011
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