
About us
# About Us
New York City Skeptics is an all-volunteer nonprofit community dedicated to science, critical thinking, skepticism, evidence-based reasoning, and scientific literacy.
If you're interested in skepticism, the scientific method, psychology, philosophy, logical reasoning, debunking pseudoscience, fact-checking, and separating evidence from misinformation, you'll find like-minded people here.
Our events explore topics such as:
- Critical thinking and cognitive biases
- Science and scientific discoveries
- Skepticism and skeptical inquiry
- Psychology and human behavior
- Medicine and evidence-based healthcare
- Extraordinary claims and extraordinary evidence
- Astrology, psychics, homeopathy, conspiracy theories, paranormal claims, and other forms of pseudoscience
- Media literacy and evaluating evidence
Whether you're a lifelong skeptic or simply curious about how to think more critically, you're welcome to join us. Our meetings are friendly, respectful, and open to everyone who values reasoned discussion.
To keep conversations enjoyable and focused, we generally avoid discussions centered on religion, partisan politics, and climate change.
Please RSVP early, some of our events have limited seating.
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About New York City Skeptics
For more information about our organization and other activities, visit www.nycskeptics.org.
Upcoming events
6

The fine art of baloney detection
The Flame Diner, 893 9th Ave, New York, NY, USWelcome to “Skeptic Dinners,” a series of events facilitated by Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, a philosopher and biologist at the City College of New York. The idea is similar to that of the Ancient Greek symposia: let’s get a small number of like-minded people together over drinks and food and discuss interesting subjects!
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Three decades ago the astronomer and skeptic Carl Sagan published his famous essay on baloney detection, part of his book The Demon-Haunted World, subtitled "Science as a Candle in the Dark."
For this discussion, we revisit Sagan's baloney detection kit and update it a bit on the basis of an article written by Massimo Pigliucci for a recent issue of Skeptical Inquirer.
Suggested readings / viewing:
* The Fine Art of Baloney Detection—Sagan’s Essay Three Decades Later (available for free download as pdf here)
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NOTE: new location!
Also NOTE: Since these are dinner events at a restaurant, which require reservations, you are expected to consume some food. Also please treat your rsvp seriously and update it if you decide not to come. If you don’t and we end up with empty seats, you may be barred from some of the next meeting. Thanks for understanding!
12 attendees
Past events
446
![[LOCATION CHANGE] Drinking Skeptically](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/c/6/e/highres_535835950.jpeg)
![[LOCATION CHANGE] Drinking Skeptically](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/8/3/b/highres_535278491.jpeg)
