Science and
Pseudo-Science
-Demarcation
of natural sciences
from other academic disciplines
-Demarcation of science from
technology, pure and applied
science
-Demarcation of science from
pseudo science (case study
astrology)
„Literature:
Intellectual, reflectory
Own technical language
„ Informative ”speaks
speaks to the mind
mind”
„ Explanatory power: once theories
have been proposed it is possible to
see confirming instances everywhere
(inductively powerful)
„
„
Ziman
Ziman, Kitcher, Feyerabend, Thagard
Science and Technology
„
Similarities between science
and other academic studies
Arguments for a difference
Scientific thought has only
one genesis (Greece-Europe)
„ Technology
T h l
d
developed
l
d all
ll
over the world
„ The understanding of the
world acquired through
science is different than that
obtained from technology
Counter-arguments
Requires a theory of what science is
„ The distinction between science and
technology
tec
o ogy seems
see s blurred
b u ed in modern
ode
research
„ The pragmatist/instrumentalist
claims that science is only science
when it is of practical use
„
„
Thales (600-585 BC)
(Wolpert, 1992)
Why should we be concerned
about pseudo-science? (Ziman)
„
„
„
„
Lack of public concern with the
advancement of science
Public’s ”misunderstanding” of science
Public’s preoccupation with the occult,
paranormal, astrology
Lack of public concern with important
ethical issues arising in science
Case study: Science and
Astrology
History of astrology
„ Are philosophical theories of science
apply
app
y to distinguish
d st gu s astrology
ast o ogy from
o
other branches of science?
„ Do they need to?
„
Does the cock’s crow
cause the sun to rise?
1
1975 statement by 192 scientists
and 19 Nobel prize winners
Astrology
„
„
„
„
„
Zodiac established in 700 BC in Egypt,
Chaldea
Ptolemy (2 AD) Tetrabiblos and Almagest
European Renaissance (14th-16
16th Century)
– widespread rise in developments in arts
Age of Enlightenment (17th –
18th century) – lost popularity
Start of own renaissance
in 1930’s
Called for the rejection of astrology,
arguing it was a pseudo-science because:
„
„
„
„
Astrology originated as part of a magical
world view
The planets are too distant for there to be any
physical foundation for astrology
Astrology is incapable of making precise
predictions
People believe it merely out of longing for
comfort
Counterarguments
Other criticisms of astrology
Origins are irrelevant to scientific
status (e.g., chemistry and
alchemy; medicine and witchcraft)
„ Many ”scientific” theories are based
on a multitude of influences resting
on tendencies rather than laws
„ Astrology is still vaguely testable or
verifiable (see Michael Gauquelin)
„
„
”Technobabble”: Brain
Gym”
Resists falsification
Non-progressive
„ Non-critical
„ Not ”public knowledge”
„ Not objective
„ Can be replaced by a
better theory (psychology,
genetics, sociology)
„
Other Pseudo-Sciences?
Homeopathy?
„ Acupuncture?
„ “Detox”
Detox
„ Telepathy?
„ Extraterrestrials?
„ Greenhouse Effect?
„ Creationism?
„
Educational
Kinesiology
„ Used in UK schools
and approved by DHE
„ Based on ”massaging
brain buttons”
„
Hugh Charles Sparker
Sammuel Hahnemann
Detox Spa
2
Additional Literature
„
Science, Religion and
Ideology
”Bad Science” Ben
Goldacre, 2008
Creationism and
Feyerabend’s
anarchistic view of
science
[email protected]
MNSE 9100
Spring 2009
Paul Feyerabend
Against Method
”Against Method:
Outline of an
Anarchistic Theory of
Knowledge” London
New Left Books,
1975
[email protected]
MNSES9100
Autumn 2008
Science and Religion
„
„
„
„
Scientific «facts» are taught at a very
early age and in the same way religious
«facts» we taught a century ago.
S i
Science
d
doesn’t
’t receive
i
the
th criticism
iti i
that
th t
society gets even at elementary level.
The judgement of the scientists is
received in much the same way as the
bishop and cardinal was accepted.
Science has become as oppressive as the
ideologies it once had to fight. Heretics in
science are
sanctioned MNSES9100 Autumn 2008
[email protected]
Wants to defend society against ideologies
Suggests that 17th and 18th century science was an
instrument of liberation (breaks hold the
comprehensive system of thought) and
enlightenment
li ht
t (made
(
d man question
ti
inherited
i h it d
beliefs)
„ Claims that modern science has deteriorated into a
«stupid religion»
«Science, with all its reductionism and materialism,
has deprived man of his special status—only an
idea of culture that excludes science can restore
man’s dignity» (Nietsche)
„
„
[email protected]
MNSES9100
Autumn 2008
Feyerabend’s Argument
Two common arguments to defend the
exceptionalist position that science has
in society today:
1) That science has found the correct method
for achieving results
2) That there are many results to prove the
excellence of the method
Feyerabend’s Counterarguments
1) There is no such method
2) Only holds if it can be taken for granted that
nothing else has produced results
[email protected]
MNSES9100
Autumn 2008
3
Kansas State Science
Standards
”Anything Goes”
” A truth that reigns without checks and
balances is a tyrant who must be
overthrown, and any falsehood that can
help
p us in the overthrow of this tyrant
y
is to
be welcomed”
”Three cheers to the fundamentalists of
California who succeeded in having a
dogmatic formulation of evolution removed
from the textbooks and an account of
Genesis included”
[email protected]
MNSES9100
„
„
Autumn 2008
Intelligent Design
Proponents assert that the workings
of this planet are too complex to be
ascribed to evolution. There must
have been a designer working to a
plan – that is, a creator
„ Some state that evolution is as
much an article of faith as
creationism
„
August 1999, the Kansas State
Board of Education voted 6-4
in favour of state science
standards from which several
topics including virtually all
topics,
references to evolution had
been deleted. Students will no
longer be tested on these
topics
Also deleted were the Big Bang
theory, environmental science
concept and any mention of
geologic time
[email protected]
MNSES9100
Autumn 2008
Science and Religion: Creationists
-
deny that evolutionary theory is a science
state that evolution is just a statement of faith
suggest that evolution theory is less well supported
by
y evidence as compared
p
to other scientific theories
[email protected]
MNSES9100
Autumn 2008
Recent cases
„
„
Kitzmiller and Dover (2006). Judge Jones
ruled that Dover school board’s decisions
to mention ID to ninth-grade biology
students as an alternative to the
Darwinian theory of evolution,
evolution and to
refer students to the book Of Pandas and
People as a reference source was
unconstitutional.
In Georgia in 2005 a judged ordered a
school district to remove stickers on
textbooks that warned:
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