re: #26 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

“Can I read that as “Yes, I understand that many other things, like social pressure, non-legal penalties, propaganda, and other things can stop adults from doing things”?”

I would not answer that without endeavouring to provide sufficient context = the whole world of the point of view of it and I am unable and/or unwilling to endeavour to do that. So, sure, you can read it that way if you wish but I am expressly not expressing what you are reading into it.

“EST. You said that all philosophy and psychology can be viewed as ‘woo’; this is incorrect.”

Says you.

“CBT, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy, can be shown in controlled studies to be effective.”

*It can still be called woo by people with opposing views who do not support the studies or who have conflicting points of views. And it is. It is not an exact unquestioned science. It is theoretical, and as woo as anything can be. That YOU might agree or support a certain study is just you supporting or agreeing with a specific study. You can site studies you buy into. Trust me, for every ten people who buy into a “study” you have bought into, there are ten people who say it is flawed, incorrect, incomplete, biased or invalid.

“Likewise, applied philosophy can be shown to be more or less effective; game theory is a good example of this.”

*Same response/opinion as above.