The Sleeper and the Shepherd

Critical Thinking: Scientific Method & Skepticism

Primary Goal 

To teach the underlying ideas of the Scientific process and skepticism.

Pre-Requisite Achievements

  • Fire, Flower, and Blade
  • Sleeper in the Shadowlands

Sub Skills

  • The Sleeper
  • The Shepherd
  • The Key to Hell
  • The Great Tribe
  • The Kukri

The Achievement Requirements

  • The Sleeper
    • Explain how a theory works and is Tested.
    • Explain what Contrived Knowledge is, and how it is useful and where it is limited.
  • The Shepherd
    • Explain the process of attempting to be less wrong.
    • Explain how the limits of Perception mean that one will always be somewhat wrong.
    • Explain how science seeks to disprove as a means of becoming less wrong.
  • The Key to Hell
    • Explain the underlying logic behind “Take Nobody’s word for it.”
    • Explain Argument from Authority and the relationship between expertise and information.
  • The Great Tribe
    • Explain why sample size is important, and what would be considered a good sample size. 
    • Explain the basic concept of Cladistics and Taxonomy.
    • Name the Five Kingdoms of Life, and explain at least one other proposed model for taxonomic Kingdoms.
    • Explain how taxonomy shows that humans are another animal and are not separate from the rest of life.
  • The Kukri
    • Explain why theories are never proven, but only ever disproven.
    • Explain how good theories tend to simplify or cut away, rather than being additive