5.1.1 Reasoned Analysis and Empirical Claims
Reasoned Analysis
Question at Issue:
How credible are the different theories about the Bermuda Triangle mysteries?
Evidence and Information:
- Historical records of ship/plane disappearances
- Scientific theories from peer-reviewed resources
- Pseudoscientific theories from other sources
Assumptions:
- We assume that some explanations, such as UFOs and sea monsters, are not credible, and that the more reasonable theories, such as rogue waves and the Gulf Stream provide better explanations to the mystery
- We assumed sources like Yelp and Good Reviews are not credible but interesting to see the civilian and popular point of view
Concepts:
- Oceanography
- Shipwrecks
- Plane crashes
- Legends
- UFOs
- Weather patterns
- Weather anomalies
- Physics
- Myths
- Cryptozoology
- Navigation
Context:
- Historical
- Geographical
- Technological
- Supernatural
Point of View:
- Oceanographers
- Sailors
- Captains
- Pilots
- Geologists
- Physicists
- Journalists
- Meteorologists
Purpose:
- To determine the credibility of certain theories regarding the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle and to find more likely alternatives
Implications and Consequences:
- If the superstitious theories around the Bermuda Triangle were shown to be non-credible, this would mainly result in the reduction of the stigma behind the alleged mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
- On the other hand, if the theories around the Bermuda Triangle were shown to be true, then this could result in the triangle becoming an illegal traveling site due to the dangers. Possibly, it could even become a research site for scientists
Conclusions and Interpretations:
Many theories surrounding the Bermuda Triangle, including UFOs, Atlantis, and Sea Monsters, are not credible and are not valid explanations for the occurrences within the Bermuda Triangle
Disciplinary Lenses
Physics
Question at Issue:
How does the study of the physical world and its anomalies help us understand the interactions between planes/ships and the Bermuda Triangle?
Evidence and Information:
- Laws of physics
- Laboratory experiments
- Field experiments
Assumptions:
- Physics can be applied to help in understanding the formation of rogue waves and can be used to understand the concept of time warps, but it seems unlikely that there are any time warps in the Bermuda Triangle.
Concepts:
- Waves
- Polarity
- Newton’s Law of Motion
- Gravity
- Momentum
- Energy
- Black Hole/Time Warp Theories
- Math
Context:
- Historical context (what we know now vs. then)
- Scientific context
- Physical context
Point of View:
- This would be from the point of view of a physicist trying to examine the possibility of time warps in the Bermuda Triangle as well as how physics plays into other theories
- To understand how more credible concepts such as wave patterns and polarity work
- To understand the physical world and to determine if there is a direct correlation between the Bermuda Triangle and its interactions with ships/planes
Implications and Consequences:
- Physics can be used to explain virtually every theory involved, but the main consequence would be disproving the theory that there are time warps in the Bermuda Triangle
Conclusions and Interpretations:
According to the laws of physics, it is very unlikely that there are any time warps in the Bermuda Triangle, as time warps themselves are only theoretical, and if they were in our ocean, we would know. However, physics can help to explain other theories, such as the formation of rogue waves or the magnetic anomaly that disrupts compasses in certain areas of the Bermuda Triangle.
Oceanography
Question at Issue:
How can the general study of the ocean help our understanding of how the ocean operates and causes unusual activities?
Evidence and Information:
- Historical records
- Individual accounts
- Myths and legends
- General scientific data of the Bermuda Triangle area (analysis of plate tectonics geological oddities, and weather patterns)
Assumptions:
- Dangerous interactions between man and the sea are common and are usually the result of storms and even rogue waves, but likely not the result of sea monsters (or an undiscovered species of marine life)
Concepts:
- Biology
- Weather patterns
- Species variation
- Geology
- Ship travel
- Sea monsters
- Waves
- Gulf Stream
- Current
- Myths/legends
Context:
- Biological context
- Historical context
- Geological context
- Meteorological context
- Mythological context
Point of View:
- This would be from the point of view of an oceanographer trying to understand how the effects and inner-workings of the ocean can lead to disaster
Purpose:
- To understand the biological, geological, and meteorological aspects of the ocean and their relation to ships disappearing
Implications and Consequences:
- The main consequences would be an increase in our understanding of what goes on out in the open ocean, and how scientists can work to better predict tragedies
Conclusion and Interpretation:
Many of the disappearances out in the ocean, especially in the Bermuda Triangle, are likely the result of bad storms, rogue waves (once thought to be mythical, but they have been proven true), and strong currents–not because of any mythical sea creatures such as the Kraken or sirens.
Engineering
Question at issue:
How can the study of ship/plane mechanics help us understand how these machines operate and function when going out to sea?
Evidence and Information:
- Historical documents
- Records of ship/plane disappearances
- Principles of mechanics/engineering
- Individual accounts
Assumptions:
- Technical issues are common in most aircraft/ships, and it is possible that a combination of technical failures and bad weather resulted in many of the reported incidents in the Bermuda Triangle. Other possibilities, such as attack from an enemy vessel or explosions within certain ships should also be considered
Concepts:
- Aviation
- Seamanship
- Mechanics
- Physics
- Wreckage
Context:
- Physical context
- Historical context
- Mechanical context
Point of View:
- This would be from the point of view of a mechanical engineer trying to understand if these ships and planes disappeared because of technical issues
Purpose:
- To understand how the handling and operation of aircraft and ships are related to their disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle
Implications and Consequences:
- The consequences/implications would be a better understanding of how these ships/planes went down and what improvements can be made to modern ships/planes to prevent further incidents from happening
Conclusions and Interpretation:
It is entirely possible that some of these disappearances were the result of mechanical failures, bad weather, or both. Despite this, there is no supernatural explanation for the failure of mechanics in the Bermuda Triangle. However, hexagonal clouds, which generate sea surface wind reaching nearly 100 mph., and storms can certainly have negative effects on ships or planes.
Empirical Claims
Our Empirical Claim
The more commonly known theories concerning the Bermuda Triangle, such as UFO’s, sea monsters, time warps, and Atlantis, are not valid explanations as to what happened to certain planes/ships. There are many more scientifically plausible and well-researched theories to explain these events, such as the Gulf Stream current, hexagonal clouds/air bombs, rogue waves, and magnetic anomalies.
Our Claim under the Standards of Critical Thinking:
- Clarity: Used clear and precise wording to get the point across.
- Accuracy: We used accurate sources and presented information as accurately as we could.
- Precision: Used narrow searches and terms to find the best and most specific information.
- Importance: Not exactly life-changing, but it is a start to forming solutions of how to prevent more wreckages, and possibly bring closure to disappearances.
- Relevance: Could shine a light on how to find wreckage and remains from Bermuda Triangle disappearances. We used evidence and theories all relevant to OAI.
- Sufficiency: Should have sufficient scientific evidence to counter many popular pseudo-theories regarding the Bermuda Triangle.
- Depth: Did not go into too much depth regarding certain mysteries but covered basic information.
- Breadth: Covered a wide variety of theories to explain examples of disappearances of the Bermuda Triangle, both pseudo-theories and accepted scientific theories.
Inductive Reasoning
True Premise 1: There are reports of UFO sightings in the Bermuda Triangle.
True Premise 2: Ships and planes have gone missing in the Bermuda Triangle.
Weak Inductive Reasoning: Therefore, UFOs must have been responsible for the disappearances of ships and planes. (Argument relies on uncorrelated, unfounded claims.)
Logical Conclusion: Rather than depending on the pseudoscientific theory of extraterrestrial life to explain the disappearances, it’s much more reasonable to find answers in things that can be scientifically proven, such as the Gulf Stream current, hexagonal clouds/air bombs, rogue waves, and magnetic anomalies. Additionally, it should be considered that eyewitness accounts of UFOs hold no scientific weight in proving their existence.
Deductive Reasoning
True Premise 1: Columbus reported seeing a ‘great ball of fire’ crash into the ocean in the Bermuda Triangle.
True Premise 2: UFOs are sometimes described as balls of light or fire.
Weak Deductive Reasoning: Therefore, the “great ball of fire” seen by Columbus must have been a UFO.
Logical Conclusion: The premises here do not lead deductively to the conclusion that Columbus saw a UFO (in the extraterrestrial sense) due to there being a lack of evidence for UFOs and the fact that not all UFOs are described this way (meaning there is no way to know whether a ball of light/fire is indeed a UFO).
Abductive Reasoning
Observation 1: The ocean is very deep.
Observation 2: We know very little about the ocean, and have only explored a very small portion of its waters.
Weak Explanation: Since we know so little about the ocean, there is no way to prove that yet-to-be-discovered sea creatures are not lurking in the deep waters of the ocean. (Argument makes an appeal to ignorance.)
Logical Explanation: While we may know very little about the ocean and its contents, there is not sufficient evidence for this theory to be proven. These observations only point to how difficult it can be to discover the remnants of ships and planes that go missing.
Logical Fallacies
Cherry Picking
For many pseudo-theories, such as UFO’s and time warps, supporters rely heavily on picking out certain pieces of evidence, such as reported sightings and misinterpretation of individual accounts (ex. Columbus’s journal), and usually don’t consider any of the evidence that counters their argument/theory.
Appeal to Ignorance
This fallacy is present for all pseudo-theories covered, as supporters of each argue that since it can’t be completely disproven, they should be viewed as legitimate possibilities.
Circular Reasoning
Supporters of the Sea Monster theory argue that sea monsters do exist because there are stories about them saying they are real, but those stories can’t be proven either.
Hasty Generalization
Many conspiracy theorists who talk about the Bermuda Triangle seem to think that all or most ships/planes that enter the area disappear because of a few examples, which is not true by any means.