Reply #29: Easy enough.

[Random_Australian]

A) What claims? The seth ones.

B) "I've been waiting around to see if there was some justification for that nickname. " waiting is probably not the best idea. In the back and forth of ideas, we find the truth. Moreover, when I'm not responding, you've nothing to see and thus no way to learn.

C) You know, we actually kind of knew that people with prosthetic limbs could go well, and that large, sudden changes on the scale of losing an arm change people a lot. In fact, that's a fairly well-known response.

"So, which illnesses do you think are caused by suggestion, and why?"

The question is: What was the illness? Was it cured? (In your story about the amputee) 'cos I'm not seeing anything that could be sensibly classified as an illness that was caused by suggestion. Becoming depressed when losing something to vital is normal, not an illness. Some people learn to cope, and some don't. This is also normal.

D) Your father had polio at an opportune time, and this is evidence illness is caused by suggestion?

Now, it is very interesting that you consider this evidence. Because a lot of things happened before your father became ill, but you've chosen a particular one. This is known as confirmation bias.

Actually, it might not be. Do you have any reason to suspect one particular cause over any other? If so, what?