What Is Science?
What is science? When we think about science we can focus on the methodology of science. Science is not a list of activities according to Okasha. We may commit to a particular experiment, but not all science can be experimented. Some science can be merely observational, so to complete this answer is extremely difficult. Typically when we think of science versus pseudoscience we believe science can be theorized, tested, or can create results. However pseudoscience has the ability to be falsifiable, according to Popper. Falsifiable is not proving something as false but the theory makes some predictions that are capable of being reevaluated. In particular, Popper states Freuds psychoanalytic theory and astrology are both pseudoscience. In scientific terms its impossible to quantify thoughts of the human mind. The idea of pseudoscience fluctuates during time periods. Astrology was considered an exceptional field of natural knowledge during the Renaissance period. Karl Popper used the term demarcation problem when referring to pseudoscience versus science and proposed a solution by discriminating between the two. His simplistic question asked if the scientific status of theory can be falsifiable then the theory is scientific, if it isnt its pseudoscience. However, Poppers theory clearly doesnt work. Epistomologists have issues with Poppers theory, because how do you know a theory has even been falsified? Their argument examines one aspect, their equipment, if youre measuring something but the equipment is broken it doesnt mean that experiment isnt scientific. Another issue with Poppers claims are he fails to demarcate in the right situation. As an example they talked about Creationism, its falsifiable claims through historical data. Using simple common sense when creating experiments is a better avenue than Poppers theory. The term pseudoscience is considered an abusive word in the science world, perhaps a way of disclaiming another scientist when theyre intimidated. Pseudoscience is a term that should be further investigated and understand the history of the term itself and what it truly represents.
Immanuel Velikovsky debated demarcation and studied catastrophe theories. When he read stories of history, particulary the Hebrew Bible, he read horrible stories of floods, fire from the Heavens, and earthquakes. After contemplating these horrific theories he began to wonder if these were hallucinations or just metaphors