Witch doctors are part of the "stupid unwashed" masses, who actually aren't stupid and unwashed, and believe in it as much they do. The reason people believe it is the same reason they believe most things -- people they trust tell them that it is the case and there is nothing in their experience that tells them that it is not the case. The same reason that I believe that cars run on fossil fuel and not liquid pixies. It has nothing to do with me being smart.
----- Original Message ---- From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
On Nov 8, 2009, at 5:13 AM, Joseph Catron wrote:
>
> So your claim is that the stupid unwashed masses have brought the
> witch doctors their money for centuries, but not a single one of them
> has ever gotten anything of value in return? By what strange logic
> would such a thing be possible?
Given the placebo effect, people can be "cured" by sugar pills. Should we condone the sale of sugar pills because of that?
Doug ___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk