The fine art of baloney detection

🗓️ Monday, September 21, 2026 · 7:00 PM

📍 The Flame Diner — 893 9th Ave, New York, NY, New York, NY

Welcome 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... Welcome 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! View more

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