|
||
Definition:
Coined by Irving Langmuir, the term refers to the process of claiming the detection of
some causal connection or force operating behind observed phenomena, even the forces or
phenomena are, at best, barely on the edge of possible perception.
Pathological science occurs because scientists are, after all, human beings and are prone to see what they want or what they expect. People being people, they can fool themselves into believing something that never really should have been accepted in the first place. As a result, skeptics and independent researchers are unable to reproduce the experiments, but true believers can do so readily. Very often, pathological science is simply a form of confirmation bias.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
Skepticism & Critical Thinking
This is the main index for issues dealing with skepticism, critical thinking, logic and arguments. The first section is Critical Thinking itself - how to think about claims and arguments you hear, how to critique arguments, and how to formulate your own arguments such that they are more likely to be sound and valid. The second section is about Skeptical Investigations - the practical application of the critical thinking skills covered in the first section. Here you will find critiques of things like astrology, alternative medicine, parapsychology, the New Age and more.
