The Enigma of Stonehenge

Visiting Stonehenge is an enchanting experience; its status as one of the most famous ancient landmarks inevitably influences you. Yet, beyond its iconic façade, the stone circle emanates a unique mystical aura.

What drew ancient people to this site over 10,000 years ago? Archaeologists have uncovered four significant Mesolithic postholes from around 8000 BC, three of which align east-west, hidden beneath the current carpark.

The construction of the stone circle we recognize today likely took place around 2500 BC, although the central crescent of bluestones may have been transported from 250 kilometers away and set up as early as 3000 BC. This timeline positions it as contemporaneous with the first Egyptian pyramid, the step pyramid of Djoser, erected around 2620 BC.

Unlike the Egyptians, however, our knowledge of Stonehenge and its creators remains limited. This uncertainty adds to its allure: it stands as a perpetual mystery, a puzzle shrouded in the mists of time.

During my visit to the megalith at sunset with a local archaeologist, we encountered a diverse group of individuals clad in robes, engaging in prayers directed at the stones. Two women bowed fervently before the Sarsen stones, led by a man dressed in flaxen robes.

This phenomenon is not surprising. Given Stonehenge's elusive history, visitors project their interpretations onto it, resulting in various meanings; this includes the Celtic revivalists known as Druids or claims that Jesus Christ visited it during his 'lost years' from ages 12 to 30.

Carl Sagan's remarkable work, "The Demon-Haunted World," offers a critical examination of superstitions, hoaxes, and pseudosciences. He delves into the reasons behind our attraction to fantastical explanations for peculiar phenomena, despite the lack of substantial evidence and the availability of rational alternatives.

An illustrative example Sagan shares is that of José Alvarez, a 19-year-old American 'psychic' who visited Australia in 1988. Alvarez claimed to channel a 2,000-year-old healer named 'Carlos' and professed the ability to communicate with the deceased and cure terminal illnesses. In reality, he was a fictional character created by an Australian television show to demonstrate the gullibility of the public. His deception captivated thousands at the Sydney Opera House until his true nature was exposed.

Sagan notes this incident reveals "how little it takes to tamper with our beliefs, how readily we are led, how easy it is to fool the public when people are lonely and starved for something to believe in."

Sagan's foresight about our current world is striking. An excerpt from his book has been circulating on social media, showcasing its uncanny predictive nature:

"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or my grandchildren's time — when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness."

Sagan's insights ring true. As a species, we seem susceptible to mass delusions, pseudoscience, hoaxes, and paranormal beliefs. Even when a hoax is revealed, like that of 'Carlos', some individuals persist in their original beliefs. From alien abductions to crop circles, and most recently, the rampant COVID-19 conspiracy theories—claims of its non-existence, accusations of it being a scheme by Big Pharma, or assertions that vaccines contain digital microchips to monitor individuals—these are all manifestations of humanity's inclination toward simpler, more comforting explanations.

So, why do people fall for such fabrications despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary? What compels individuals to believe there's a 'face' on Mars despite scientific clarifications, or that crop circles are alien in origin, even when the creators have revealed how they were made?

Why do some cling to the notion of a lost advanced civilization like Atlantis, despite the lack of archaeological evidence? Or believe in the efficacy of acupuncture, chiropractic care, or homeopathy for serious illnesses, when numerous reliable studies contradict these claims?

Human perception is notoriously unreliable; witness testimonies about the same event often tell vastly different stories. Yet, the allure of conspiracy theories and the predictions of figures like Nostradamus continue to fascinate many.

Collective delusions have recurred throughout history. Sociologists Robert Bartholomew and Erich Goode have documented how false or exaggerated beliefs can spontaneously emerge, rapidly spreading through populations and impacting entire cultures or nations.

Examples abound, from the head-hunter rumor panic in March 1937 on the Indonesian island of Banda, which left streets deserted for weeks, to the Seattle windshield pitting epidemic of April 1954, where minor windshield damage was mistakenly attributed to roving vandals.

These instances are often labeled 'mass hysteria,' though this term is misleading. Factors such as rumors, shared cultural beliefs, and media amplification play significant roles in the emergence and spread of these collective delusions, often exacerbated by reinforcing actions from authorities.

Charles Mackay, a Scottish journalist, chronicled the susceptibility of people to suggestion in his 1841 work, "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds." His observations are not merely academic; modern examples have led to job losses, company failures, and even economic downturns.

The 2008 global financial crisis, for instance, was rooted in unsustainable debt that everyone recognized but chose to ignore. Was this not a collective delusion?

Economic cycles repeatedly exhibit this same irrational behavior. Mackay recounts the tulip mania of February 1637, when tulip contracts sold for more than ten times the annual income of skilled craftsmen, with one bulb offered in exchange for five hectares of land.

Throughout history, collective delusions have appeared in various forms, from the futile quest for the transmutation of elements into gold to the witch trials in Salem, from 17th-century magnet cures to the long-lasting military campaigns of the Crusades.

Individual manifestations also exist, such as the accounts of alien abductions, which bear striking similarities to earlier reports of demonic abductions. This phenomenon may be partially explained by sleep paralysis, a condition where individuals become aware but unable to move or speak while waking or falling asleep, leading to hallucinations.

The human brain, developed for survival in the Pleistocene wilderness, struggles to rationalize the confusing and terrifying aspects of unexplained events. Physicist Robert Park points out, "On the inside we are hunter-gatherers... the brain that enables us to write sonnets and solve differential equations has changed little in 160,000 years."

However, there is hope, and it lies in science. In "The Demon-Haunted World," Sagan argues that the scientific method provides clarity to overcome our fuzzy thinking. He asserts that only through critical and clear thinking can we differentiate profound insights from mere nonsense. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the universe as it truly is, rather than succumbing to comforting but false beliefs.

Sagan presents a 'Baloney Detection Kit,' a nine-step framework for critical thinking to help distinguish between fact and fallacy:

1. Independent confirmation: Seek independent verification of claims.
2. Evidence-based debate: Promote thorough discussions supported by evidence from knowledgeable sources.
3. Authority is not evidence: Recognize that authority does not guarantee accuracy; experts can be mistaken.
4. Consider alternative explanations: Generate multiple hypotheses and test them systematically.
5. Avoid fixation on a single explanation: Stay open to alternative interpretations and weigh them fairly.
6. Quantify: Use numerical data to differentiate between competing explanations.
7. Consistency is key: Ensure all elements of an argument align logically.
8. Occam's Razor: Favor simpler hypotheses that explain the data equally well.
9. Testability: Ask if a premise can be tested or falsified; if not, it holds little value.

Sagan's guidelines help identify common logical fallacies, such as accepting arguments based solely on their source or believing dubious statistics. He encourages skepticism towards fantastical claims, asserting that reality itself offers enough wonder without the need for invention.

Ultimately, Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit encapsulates the essence of the scientific method—a structured approach to critical thinking. As Sagan eloquently states, science is "a candle in the dark," illuminating our understanding of the world bit by bit.

In conclusion, science is not an end in itself; it serves as a valuable tool for uncovering the truths we seek.

The video titled "Lighting Up A Candle in the Dark | Animal Well #05" explores themes of enlightenment and understanding in a world clouded by misinformation, resonating with the content discussed above.