Misinformation and disinformation are common on the web, often overshadowing crucial facts. Pseudoscience, in particular, masquerades as legitimate science without proper evidence or methods. It can lead to dangerous consequences, especially in health, undermining public trust in real scientific research. Understanding how to identify pseudoscience is crucial.
What is pseudoscience?
Much of what is written on the web is misinformation, disinformation (fake news), or simply misleading information because crucial facts have been deliberately or unknowingly overlooked.
There is also pseudoscientific information that masquerades as scientific when it is not—in other words, a form of disinformation—the list of topics characterized as pseudoscience is extensive.
Tag: pseudoscience (8)
This variety of disinformation is usually easy to spot. Brian Dunning’s article How to Spot Pseudoscience provides a helpful 15-point checklist.
The Dangers of Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience poses significant dangers by promoting false claims that can mislead individuals and society. It often bypasses rigorous testing, leading people to adopt ineffective or harmful practices, especially in fields like medicine and health. This can result in wasted resources, delayed proper treatments, or public health risks. Additionally, pseudoscience undermines trust in genuine scientific research, making it harder for individuals to distinguish between credible information and deceptive claims, ultimately hindering informed decision-making.
The case for not using the term pseudoscience
Katie Burke’s article Stop Using the Word Pseudoscience argues that the distinction between science and pseudoscience is unclear. She claims that pseudoscience lacks a coherent meaning, leading to unnecessary polarization, mistrust, disrespect, and confusion about scientific issues.
She explains that dismissing an idea or belief as pseudoscience implies that people are ignorant or deceptive, creating an adversarial environment and suggests using more explicit and descriptive terms when addressing so-called pseudoscience.
To protect ourselves from the dangers of pseudoscience, we should verify claims by checking credible sources and scientific evidence. We must question information that lacks clear proof or contradicts established facts. We can avoid misleading content and make better decisions by staying informed and cautious.
Resources
- Article: How to Spot Pseudoscience by Brian Dunning
- Article: Stop Using the Word Pseudoscience by Katie L. Burke
Detailed Resources
- The Guardian: The collapse of the information ecosystem poses profound risks for humanity by Lydia Polgreen (2019)
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