A Stage Magician Claims He Can Lift Objects with the Power

question 80

Multiple Choice

A stage magician claims he can lift objects with the power of his mind, and in his act, it looks like he really can. A member of the audience says, "I believe he can really do it. Look, the evidence is right there. You can see him do it with your own eyes. What more do you need?" Why might you believe that the stage magic is just an act?

• A) Because you should ignore evidence when you are at magic shows.
• B) Because you rely on background beliefs about stage magic and magic tricks.
• C) Because you don't really want to find out the truth when you are in the audience.
• D) Because the evidence proves conclusively that the magic is fake.

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Definitions:

Nudging

A concept in behavioral economics wherein indirect suggestions and positive reinforcements influence behaviors and decision-making.

Behavioral Economics

A subset of economics that analyzes how psychological, social, cognitive, and emotional factors influence economic decisions of individuals and institutions.

Neoclassical Economists

Economists specializing in examining the allocation of goods, outputs, and how income is distributed within markets, driven by the dynamics of supply and demand.

Simplifying Assumptions

Theoretical conditions applied to models to make them more manageable and easier to understand, often by ignoring real-world complexity.