Pseudoscience lacks scientific method, verifiability, and independent confirmation. It often uses misleading language, has heavily exaggerated claims, and is highly personalized. Pseudoscience is harmful and can infiltrate society.
Pseudoscience is a body of knowledge that comes with a veneer of scientific respectability that doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The term “pseudoscience” is meant to be derogatory; you may also hear terms like “alternative science” or “junk science” used to refer to such fields. Learning to distinguish real science from pseudoscience is very important.
The key feature of pseudoscience is that it does not conform to the scientific method. This means that pseudoscientific claims cannot be verified and do not follow a logical order. Many scientific concepts cannot be tested with existing equipment, but the creators of such theories can provide solid information that supports their hypotheses, and these creators also welcome honest criticism and analysis. Pseudoscience has no scientific backing and cannot be tested.
Several key elements can be used to identify a field of knowledge or claim as pseudoscience. The first is the lack of verifiability and independent confirmation. Real scientists are always happy to share the data they used to arrive at their conclusions, and welcome independent testing and critiques of their work, using disproof as their primary tool for proving a theory, rather than looking for evidence. The pseudoscience community rejects rebuttal, preferring to seek evidence that bolsters specific claims, and is not open to scrutiny or debate.
It is also common to see pseudoscience accompanied by grandiose language and heavily exaggerated claims. Misleading language is often used in a pseudoscientific argument and the author may make an argument based on ignorance or on the assumption that the reader will be ignorant. Contradicting claims and arguments are also common, along with a generally poor sense of organization and thinking.
The research used to support pseudoscience is typically very sloppy, meaning it cannot be verified or repeated. Furthermore, pseudoscience is usually accompanied by a general lack of progression and is often highly personalized. When people raise valid questions or criticisms, they are accused of personal attacks, cover-ups, or conspiracies. This hostile attitude to criticism may be the bane of pseudoscientists, even if their claims could potentially have some validity if tested empirically.
Pseudoscience is found by many professional scientists to be very harmful, as well as irritating. Consumers spend large amounts of money each year on pseudoscience, believing that the grandiose claims made by companies attempting to turn a profit and pseudoscience can infiltrate society to an alarming degree. At one time, for example, people sincerely believed in the practice of phrenology, which involves examining the bumps on someone’s head to determine their inner nature.
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