Day 2: objectivity and problem of demarcation

Science is often defined vaguely, though we seem to know instinctively whether a discipline is a science or not. 

Philosopher Popper defined science as "an ever-increasing accumulation of certain knowledge about the world, firmly grounded in sense experience and logic".

Specifically, science and scientific theories must

• have exceptions
• be able to be refuted
• be based on repeatable results

Note: history is not a science because narratives take the place of "certain knowledge" in the definition of science

Pseudosciences are systems of thought that do not fulfill the criteria of true sciences while appearing to be scientific.

Physics is a true science:

- "knowledge about the world": data collected from observations and experiments support conclusions about the natural world

- have exceptions/be able to be refuted: discoveries were inconsistent with the predictions of classical physics and supported Einstein's theory of relativity

- based on repeatable results: scientists from around the world publish findings and repeat experiments, confirming their peers' results

Astrology is a pseudoscience:

- "knowledge about the world": no reliable data collected to support conclusions

- have exceptions/be able to be refuted: difficult to disprove

- based on repeatable results: no experiments repeated, no reliable results

Hard case: Moxibustion (health treatment using the combustion of mugwort leaves)

- Moxibustion was not discovered through the scientific process, but it has been used for over 2500 years. However, it is often used with acupuncture, and