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| A general definition of '''pseudoscience''' is "any body of knowledge purporting to be factual and scientific, but which has failed to be validated in accordance with the ]". | A general definition of '''pseudoscience''' is "any body of knowledge | ||
| purporting to be factual and scientific, but which has failed to be | |||
| validated in accordance with the ]". | |||
| Pseudoscience is distinguished from ] in its deviation from the accepted ]. Protoscience is science regarded to be in accordance with the method, but which has yet to be properly tested and either supported or refuted. | Pseudoscience is distinguished from ] in its deviation | ||
| from the accepted ]. Protoscience is science | |||
| regarded to be in accordance with the method, but which has yet to be | |||
| properly tested and either supported or refuted. Such fields as | |||
| ] and ] may perhaps be | |||
| best categorized as protosciences, pending more evidence and | |||
| theoretical underpinning. | |||
| Typically, works of pseudoscience fail to meet the criteria laid down | |||
| by the scientific method in one or more of the following ways: | |||
| * by asserting premises (claims without supporting evidence) as |
* by asserting premises (claims without supporting evidence) as | ||
| * by asserting claims in contradiction of recorded |
factual evidence, * by asserting claims in contradiction of recorded | ||
| * by failing to provide an experimental framework for |
evidence, * by failing to provide an experimental framework for | ||
| * by violating ] (the principle of choosing the simplest explanation when multiple viable explanations are possible). | reproducible results, or * by violating ] (the | ||
| principle of choosing the simplest explanation when multiple viable | |||
| explanations are possible). | |||
| Pseudoscience is distinguished from ], ] or | |||
| ] in that it claims to offer insight into the physical | |||
| world by scientific means (i.e., means in accordance with the | |||
| ]). Systems of thought that rely upon "divine" | |||
| or "inspired" knowledge are not considered pseudoscience if they do | |||
| not claim to be scientific per se. | |||
| The motivations for the promotion of pseudoscience range from simple | |||
| naivety about the methodological rigour of the scientific method, to | |||
| deliberate deception for financial exploitation. | |||
| Examples of fields of knowledge that many consider in varying extents | |||
| to be pseudoscientific include (alphabetically): *[[applied | |||
| ⚫ | kinesiology]], *], | ||
| *], | |||
| ⚫ | *], | ||
| *], | *], | ||
| *], | *], | ||
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| *], | *], | ||
| *], | *], | ||
| *], | |||
| *] theory | *] theory | ||
| *], | *], | ||
| Line 35: | Line 47: | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| Pseudoscientific medical practices often become quite popular, in part because they often work well due to the ]. Many pseudosciences are associated with the ] movement and there is a tendency to improperly associate all practices of the "New Age" with pseudoscience. | Pseudoscientific medical practices often become quite popular, in | ||
| part because they often work well due to the ]. Many | |||
| pseudosciences are associated with the ] movement and there | |||
| is a tendency to improperly associate all practices of the "New Age" | |||
| with pseudoscience. | |||
| See also: ], ], ], [[New | |||
| Age]], ], ], | |||
| === External links === | === External links === | ||
| * '''The ]'''. <br>Although primarily the work of a single individual and considerably negative in its bias, this work is nonetheless a well-researched and cross-referenced presentation of pseudoscientific and related subjects. | * '''The ]'''. | ||
| <br>Although primarily the work of a single individual and | |||
| considerably negative in its bias, this work is nonetheless a | |||
| well-researched and cross-referenced presentation of pseudoscientific | |||
| and related subjects. | |||
| * '''] Educational | |||
| Foundation'''. <br>The JREF organization investigates lots of claims | |||
| and attempts to test them in controlled experimental conditions. No | |||
| luck yet finding any evidence of anything not explainable by real | |||
| science. Lots of good information on the website. | |||
Revision as of 04:54, 19 September 2002
A general definition of pseudoscience is "any body of knowledge purporting to be factual and scientific, but which has failed to be validated in accordance with the scientific method".
Pseudoscience is distinguished from protoscience in its deviation from the accepted scientific method. Protoscience is science regarded to be in accordance with the method, but which has yet to be properly tested and either supported or refuted. Such fields as acupuncture and lucid dreaming may perhaps be best categorized as protosciences, pending more evidence and theoretical underpinning. Typically, works of pseudoscience fail to meet the criteria laid down by the scientific method in one or more of the following ways:
- by asserting premises (claims without supporting evidence) as
factual evidence, * by asserting claims in contradiction of recorded evidence, * by failing to provide an experimental framework for reproducible results, or * by violating Occam's Razor (the principle of choosing the simplest explanation when multiple viable explanations are possible). Pseudoscience is distinguished from Revelation, Theology or Spirituality in that it claims to offer insight into the physical world by scientific means (i.e., means in accordance with the scientific method). Systems of thought that rely upon "divine" or "inspired" knowledge are not considered pseudoscience if they do not claim to be scientific per se. The motivations for the promotion of pseudoscience range from simple naivety about the methodological rigour of the scientific method, to deliberate deception for financial exploitation. Examples of fields of knowledge that many consider in varying extents to be pseudoscientific include (alphabetically): *[[applied kinesiology]], *astrology,
- cartomancy,
- channeling,
- creationism,
- cryptozoology,
- dowsing,
- Intelligent Design theory
- iridology,
- most fortune-telling methods,
- most non-standard medical practices, including magnet therapy,
- numerology,
- parapsychology,
- perpetual motion machines
- psychic phenomena,
- Reciprocal System of Theory
- squaring the circle
- Transcendental Meditation
Pseudoscientific medical practices often become quite popular, in part because they often work well due to the placebo effect. Many pseudosciences are associated with the New Age movement and there is a tendency to improperly associate all practices of the "New Age" with pseudoscience. See also: Junk science, Quackery, Protoscience, [[New Age]], Sokal Affair, Pathological science,
External links
- The Skeptic's Dictionary.
Although primarily the work of a single individual and
considerably negative in its bias, this work is nonetheless a
well-researched and cross-referenced presentation of pseudoscientific
and related subjects.
- James Randi Educational
Foundation.
The JREF organization investigates lots of claims
and attempts to test them in controlled experimental conditions. No
luck yet finding any evidence of anything not explainable by real
science. Lots of good information on the website.