NEO-SKEPSIS # 1:

SCIENCE OR PSEUDOSCIENCE?

November of 1998

Abstracts

DEMARCATING SCIENCE FROM PSEUDOSCIENCE by Mario Bunge, McGill University

There is a considerable uncertainty concerning the peculiarities of pseudosciences, and this uncertainty affects science policy makers and administrators at all levels. The uncertaintity is due to the usual definitions of science, which are simplistic for seizing each on a single trait (e.g. empirical content, or refutability, or consensus) rather than o whole cluster of attibutes. A more complex definition is offered in terms of ten different conditions, from the general outlook to the partial overlap between each science and other sciences. Along the way several other notions are defined, particularly those of cognitive field, research program, paradigm, and scientific revolution. Then the concept of pseudoscience is defined. As well, scientific unorthodoxies and antisciences are characterized and sharply distinguished from another. It is concluded that the failure of the standard philosophies of science to identifyand criticize pseudoscience and antiscience raise grave doubts about their adequacy.

SCIENCE, PSEUDOSCIENCE AND MARIO BUNGE by Julio Sanz, Universidad de San Marcos
It is about some important examples of pseudoscience -»scientific» creationism, psycoanalysis, astrology, etc. and also their criticism. Then tries on Prof. Bunge’s fight against such theories and activities. And of course of some traits of science that distinguish it from pseudoscience.

THE SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE AGAINST ANTI-SCIENCE AND PSEUDOSCIENCE by Paul Kurtz, Council for Secular Humanism
It is easy for some one to abandon itself to the unreason, to an atttitude contrary to evidence and proof by science or to introduce mere believes as truthful. The natural human gullibility easily makes that many people believe any thing, many times as an escape from the sorrowful and boring reality. And of course it is not enough for man the scientific knowledge, also he needs arts and philosophy to find a sense to life.

THE NATURE OF PSEUDOSCIENCE by Terence Hines, Pace University
It is about the main traits of pseudoscience-e.g. its infalsability, lack of careful experiments, etc.-, also there are examples of it: creationism, ufology, etc. The paranormal is very close to it and the scientific mistakes (the N-rays and polywater). Scientist have as a duty critizice pseudosciences in order to inform to people on their consecuences and dangers.

PSEUDOCIENTIFIC PRACTICES: Some simmilarities and differences by Andrew Lugg, University of Ottawa
It is on some demarcation criteria between science and pseudoscience (probabilism, Popperian falsacionism, etc.), also it is about certain criticisms to and of certain variety, attitudes and practices of pseudoscience.

To Neo-Skepsis # 2