Pseudoscience
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Pseudoscience is a catch-all term encompassing topics that blur the line between legitimate and unfounded knowledge; everything from UFOs to Celtic myths and legends, psychic reading, star signs and astrology and more. There have been arguments that these pursuits are justified on the grounds of impartial reporting 鈥 and that just because they are not acceptable to science, that doesn鈥檛 mean they aren鈥檛 acceptable to other cultures.
What is the difference between astronomy and astrology? That鈥檚 easy: astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects, while astrology is a load of hokum. Anyone with the most basic understanding of science knows why. Astronomy passes the acid test of real science: its claims are always capable of being debunked 鈥 in other words, they are falsifiable.
Identified as the defining characteristic of real science by the philosopher Karl Popper more than 70 years ago, falsifiability has long been regarded by many scientists as a trusty weapon for seeing off the menace of pseudoscience.
From newspaper horoscopes to seaside fortune-tellers, the pseudosciences have long proved impervious to scientific attack. A whole range of such pseudoscientific terms have been debunked by earnest inquirers. Yet often merely showing that such predictions have
no basis in fact does nothing to diminish the popularity of pseudoscience.
The British zoologist Richard Dawkins has argued the 鈥済ullibility of the kind exploited by astrologers, evangelists, and other charlatans may be normal and healthy in a child, but it is unhealthy and reprehensive in an adult鈥.
American astronomer Carl Sagan claimed belief in pseudoscience 鈥渋s the fault of the educational system. We do not teach how to think.鈥 He argued that the pseudosciences flourish in space that should rightfully belong to science itself. However, he says 鈥渋f science were explained to the average person in a way that is accessible and exciting, there would be no room for pseudoscience.鈥 Lilian Anekwe
