Main Page

From RationalWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Welcome to RationalWiki!
About RationalWiki

Our purpose here at RationalWiki includes:

  1. Analyzing and refuting pseudoscience and the anti-science movement;
  2. Documenting the full range of crank ideas;
  3. Explorations of authoritarianism and fundamentalism;
  4. Analysis and criticism of how these subjects are handled in the media.

We welcome contributors, and encourage those who disagree with us to register and engage in constructive dialogue.

We have 8,010 articles for your enjoyment.

Random featured article[What is this?]
Aristolochia‎
A. californica

Birthwort (Birthworts, Pipevine, or Dutchman's Pipe vine) is a common name for plants in the genus Aristolochia. Birthwort is notable for its use in Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine, and many indigenous herbal traditions. This is despite causing cancer and kidney failure. Home run for evidence-based medicine!

Given the long and well-documented history of medical usage (since 300 BCE) and the extreme toxicity of birthwort, it could be argued that this is one of the best cases against the "appeal to tradition" and against the related "appeal to ancient wisdom", "appeal to nature", and "argument from authority" fallacies.

Aristolochia has been used for thousands of years in various cultures worldwide as a panacea for numerous diseases. Birthwort was especially thought to be beneficial for women giving childbirth; the name aristolochia derives from the Greek "άριστο λοχεία" for "noble birth" or "excellent birth". Aristolochia was commonly used in ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine pharmaceutical recipes for various conditions, including kidney ailments, peritonsillar abscess, bladder stones, edemas, gout, snakebite, and uterine complaints.

Participate in RationalWiki
RedditLogo.png
Twitter logo.png
Facebook logo.png
Discord logo.png
RationalWiki portal:
See our guide for newcomers!
A brief history of RationalWiki...
Share how you found RationalWiki!
For general chatter that doesn't fit anywhere else, the Saloon Bar is the place to go.
Essay portal:
Essays written by individual users covering a wide range of subjects. Comment on the talk pages or write your own.
Debate portal:
Informal debates covering political and philosophical issues. Participate freely or start your own.
Writing articles:
Read up on what a RationalWiki page is and our community standards.
Take a look at the help pages if you're having trouble.
We also keep a list of useful links.
Our to do list is where we pile up ideas for articles. See if anything piques your interest!
Featured Content
Need to know What Is Going On? We present regularly updated selections of the finest lunacy the Internet has to offer. Participate in the dialogue.

What is going on...

noframe
…in the world?(talk) "Actual" "news" from the "real world."
noframe
…in the Blogosphere?(talk) Quality blog posts, editorials, videos, and social media activities that relate to RationalWiki's mission.
noframe
…in the Clogosphere?(talk) Craziness from the clogged-up fringes of the Internet.
noframe
…with the Elections?(talk) News about elections from around the world.
noframe
…at RationalWiki?(*hic*) Our own main back-page.

Portals and Articles[See more content]

noframe
ScienceSpeed of lightOceanNASABrainLenski affairScience was wrong beforeJames HansenFAQ on radioactivity and nuclear technologyWaterEvidence against a recent creation
noframe
LogicArgumentum ad dictionariumBalance fallacyWeasel wordCreationist escape hatchLewis TrilemmaCredentialismPoe's LawLogical fallacyModal logicsBullshit
noframe
AtheismNew AtheismAtheist Bus CampaignSecular humanismMisotheismThe God DelusionHis Dark MaterialsSophisticated theologyAtheist professor mythSecular religionsAtheism
noframe
Creationism101 evidences for a young age of the Earth and the universeIntelligent designExpelled: Leader's GuideEvidence against a recent creationModern Science in the BibleBaraminologyIntelligent design and academic freedomAnswers Research JournalMcLean v. Arkansas Board of EducationRichard Lenski
noframe
PseudoscienceBehe: The Edge of Evolution, InterviewCryonicsNon-materialist neuroscienceIntelligent designList of pseudosciencesIntelligent design and academic freedomAnswers Research JournalChiropracticMen's rights movementAlternative medicine
noframe
ConspiracyClimate changeFlat EarthDesiree JenningsProtochronismArmenian genocide denialCOVID-19 pandemicHAARPConspiracy theoryMoon landing hoax2020 United States presidential election
noframe
DenialismLost Cause of the SouthThe Great Global Warming SwindleHeartland InstituteArmenian genocide denialCOVID-19 denialismAnti-vaccination movementTERFHolocaustHolodomorQAnon
noframe
ParanormalGhost HuntersZombiesDeliverance ministryVampireCraig WeilerExorcismBigfootSteve QuayleUnidentified flying objectDream interpretation
noframe
PoliticsCoup d'étatRobert MugabePolitical CompassVulgar libertarianismReformed Political PartyMalcolm RobertsNiccolò MachiavelliHugo ChávezTiananmen Square MassacreIgnaz Trebitsch Lincoln