Hello everyone,
Wanted to know what constitutes a “science” compared to a “pseudoscience.” Also have there been pseudosciences in the past that later became an actual science? Any examples. Thanks.
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The prexif “pseudo-” indicates fakeness or pretense. So pseudoscience is a theory or practice that isn’t actually very scientific (i.e. doesn’t actually have good evidence behind it), but makes a big show out of *looking* scientific (often because appearing scientific helps people make easy money). Look at all these big cool science-looking words we’re using! This must be so legit, right?
A classic hallmark of pseudoscience is the appeal to a specific person of authority. Often there’ll be some specific doctor, dietist, researcher, guru, etc., who advocates for a particular theory or practice that will turn your whole life around. The anthroposophy movement and Rudolf Steiner is one example. This appeal to authority helps sell pseudoscience to lay people, because it makes it seem legit and academic.
In actual science, the word of a single person shouldn’t mean very much, regardless of how many fancy titles they have — and especially if what they’re saying goes against everyone else’s observations. Science at its best is a collaborative venture, where people all over the world figure out the truth together. So if you hear someone talk about how “Dr Whitestone has a degree from Harvard, and he wrote five books about how eating mustard seeds every morning will make you gain muscle twice as fast!” your pseudoscience alarm should be going off.
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