Let s explore a controversial topic DHMO (aka Dihydrogen monoxide)
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What is pseudoscience? FAKE!! Pseudo means fake!
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Uses vague, exaggerated or untestable claims. Scientific claims may be vague or lack specific measurements. Facts are often fabricated or illogical interpretations of scientific information. Often, reference works are not even consulted. Extraordinary claims may be made and promoted, despite the fact that they contradict what is known about nature.
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Employs research that does not adhere to scientific method. Ineffectual experimental design (e.g. no control group, too many variables, etc.) Relies heavily on subjective validation to support claims. Implies that correlation is evidence of causation Data often come from nonscientific sources such as: Newspaper reports Hearsay Religious texts Other pseudoscientific reports
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Overly-reliant on confirmation rather than refutation. Claims are not falsifiable. Asserts that claims which have not been proven false must be true or vice versa. Over-reliance on testimonial, anecdotal evidence, or personal experience. (Conflicting evidence is usually ignored.) Reversed burden of proof. Demands that skeptics prove claims false, since substantial supporting evidence is lacking.
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Lacks openness to review or testing by other experts. Evades peer review before publicizing results. May claim that peer review is biased towards established paradigms. May claim that assertions cannot be evaluated adequately using standard scientific methods!! Appeals to the need for secrecy or proprietary knowledge when an independent review of data or methodology is requested.
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Uses misleading language or jargon. Uses apparently technical jargon in an effort to give claims the superficial appearance of science. Scientific-sounding terms may be created to add weight to claims and persuade non-experts to believe statements that may be false or meaningless. May use established terms in idiosyncratic ways (demonstrates unfamiliarity with mainstream work in the discipline).
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Does not progress. Fails to progress towards additional evidence of claims. Lack of self correction. Appeals to false authority, emotion, sentiment, or distrust of established fact. Individuals or groups may take criticism of their beliefs personally. Critics are identified as enemies, and their motives or character are attacked. Non-experts are accepted as authorities.
What is pseudoscience?
What is pseudoscience? Uses logical fallacies to convince. Logical Fallacies: Biased sample. (Data is gathered from a sample group that is not comparable to the larger group.) Circular reasoning. (An unsubstantiated assertion is used to justify another unsubstantiated assertion.) Red Herring. (Irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue.) Reversed burden of proof. (Shifts burden of proof away from those making claims.) Post hoc ergo propter hoc. ( After this, and therefore because of it. ) Ad hominem. ( To the man. Attacking the person rather than the statements the person has made.) Non sequitur. ( Does not follow. The conclusion does not follow from the premise.) Argumentum ad populum. ( Popular opinion. The belief that truth can be determined by essentially voting on it.) Irrational appeals. (Appeals to common sense, emotion, or authority that are not reasonable.) Composition. (Because something is true for a number of individuals, it must be true for all.)
What is pseudoscience? Uses logical fallacies to convince. Logical Fallacies: Biased sample. (Data is gathered from a sample group that is not comparable to the larger group.) Circular reasoning. (An unsubstantiated assertion is used to justify another unsubstantiated assertion.) Red Herring. (Irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue.) Reversed burden of proof. (Shifts burden of proof away from those making claims.) Post hoc ergo propter hoc. ( After this, and therefore because of it. ) Ad hominem. ( To the man. Attacking the person rather than the statements the person has made.) Non sequitur. ( Does not follow. The conclusion does not follow from the premise.) Argumentum ad populum. ( Popular opinion. The belief that truth can be determined by essentially voting on it.) Irrational appeals. (Appeals to common sense, emotion, or authority that are not reasonable.) Composition. (Because something is true for a number of individuals, it must be true for all.)
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE The primary goal is to achieve a more complete and more unified understanding of the physical world. ø PSEUDOSCIENCE Pseudoscience is more likely to be driven by ideological, cultural, or commercial goals. Subject to intense research which results in the continual expansion of knowledge in the discipline. ø Field evolves very little after it is formed; little experimentation or research is carried out and is generally done more to justify the belief than to extend it. Researchers commonly seek counterexamples or findings that appear to be inconsistent with accepted theories. ø Challenges to accepted pseudoscientific dogma is often considered hostile if not heretical, and leads to bitter disputes. Observations or data that are not consistent with current scientific understanding, once shown to be credible, generate intense interest among scientists and stimulate additional studies. ø Observations or data that are not consistent with established beliefs tend to be ignored or actively suppressed.
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE PSEUDOSCIENCE We won t, uuum be needing that!
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE Process in which each principle must be tested and remains subject to being questioned or rejected at any time. Scientific ideas and concepts must stand or fall on their own merits, based on existing knowledge and on evidence. Explanations must be stated in clear, unambiguous terms. ø ø ø PSEUDOSCIENCE Major tenets and principles of the field are often not falsifiable, and are unlikely ever to be altered or shown to be wrong. Concepts tend to be shaped by individuals who are usually not connected to mainstream science and often invoke non-expert (celebrity) authorities. Explanations tend to be vague and ambiguous, often invoking scientific terms in dubious contexts. Findings are expressed primarily through scientific journals that are peer-reviewed and maintain rigorous standards for honesty and accuracy. ø Literature is aimed at the general public, with no review, standards, pre-publication verification or demand for accuracy or precision.
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE PSEUDOSCIENCE
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE PSEUDOSCIENCE Reproducible results are necessary; experiments must be precisely described so that they can be duplicated exactly or improved upon. Failures are searched for and studied closely because incorrect theories can often make correct predictions by accident, but no correct theory will make incorrect predictions. ø ø Results cannot be reproduced or verified. Studies, if any, are often so vaguely described that one can t determine exactly what was done or how it was done. Failures are ignored, excused, hidden, lied about, discounted, explained away, rationalized, forgotten, and avoided at all costs. As time goes on, more and more is learned about the physical processes under study. Does not advocate or market unproven practices or products. ø ø No physical phenomena or processes are ever found or studied. No progress is made; nothing concrete is learned. Generally seeks to profit by selling questionable products and/or pseudoscientific services.
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE PSEUDOSCIENCE
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE Convinces by appeal to the evidence, by arguments based upon logical and/or mathematical reasoning, by making the best case data permit. When new evidence contradicts old ideas, they are abandoned. ø PSEUDOSCIENCE Convinces by appeal to faith and belief tries to convert, not convince. Seeks to persuade belief in spite of rather than because of the facts. Original idea is never abandoned, regardless of the evidence. Examples: Chemistry Physics Astronomy Geology Meteorology Paleontology Botany Zoology Genetics Examples: Astrology UFO-ology Intelligent Design The Bermuda Triangle Crop circles Acupuncture Extrasensory perception (ESP) Séances Faith healing Magnet therapy
Science vs. Pseudoscience SCIENCE PSEUDOSCIENCE
The Scientific Method Here are the facts. What conclusions can we draw from them? Pseudoscientific Method Here s the conclusion. What facts can we find to support it?
What to believe? If one knows only what one is told, one does not know enough to be able to arrive at a well-balanced decision. ~Leo Szilara
1 2 3 4 5 6 How reliable is the source of the claim? Has it been reliable in the past? (Regard with great skepticism any article on public health issues in popular periodicals.) Consider what they re not saying by what they re saying. Assume they re making the strongest case they could and ask yourself: If this is their best shot, what aren t they saying? Remember that people who are being quoted in a story were specially selected by the writer and may be completely unrepresentative. What are an expert s credentials? Movie and television stars should be regarded as experts only in being movie or TV stars. When an authority is willing to admit I don t know, s/he is more likely to be an authority. Are they trying to build a case for fear by simply repeating statements of fearful people? 7 Are non-authorities diagnosing themselves or their neighbors? 9 Have they set up an impossible threshold? 8 Do they cite sources? If so, what are those sources? 10 Beware of anecdotal evidence.
Why is it important to study and understand science? Solve problems Awareness and appreciation of life Discoveries help our growing world Issues dealing with science arise daily Acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion Clean energy sources, nuclear waste, oil spills Cancer, genetic disorders, emerging diseases Pharmaceuticals, medical technology, etc.
Why is it important to study and understand science?