Pseudoskepticism
Encyclopedia
Pseudoskepticism refers to arguments which use scientific-sounding language to disparage or refute given beliefs, theories, or claims, but which in fact fail to follow the precepts of conventional scientific skepticism
. The term was coined by Marcello Truzzi
, who argued that scientific skepticism is agnostic to new ideas, making no claims about them but waiting for them to satisfy a burden of proof before granting them validity. Pseudoskepticism, by contrast, involves "negative hypotheses" - theoretical assertions that some belief, theory, or claim is factually wrong - without satisfying the burden of proof that such negative theoretical assertions would require.
Pseudoskepticism is related to the more common term 'pseudoscience': the term was originally used to refer to rhetorical arguments which relied on 'non-proof' as a demonstration of 'disproof', usually made in opposition to an assortment of questionable claims (from UFOs and paranormal phenomena to alternative medical practices to religious ideas). The term has gradually been expanded to include any unsubstantiated invalidation of a theory.
The term 'pseudoskepticism', like the term 'pseudoscience', is generally considered pejorative because it implies poor scientific reasoning. Accordingly, those labeled as practicing or advocating pseudoskepticism normally dispute the characterization.
at Eastern Michigan University
, Truzzi gave the following description of pseudoskeptics in the journal Zetetic Scholar (which he founded):
Truzzi attributed the following characteristics to pseudoskeptics:
Truzzi characterized true skepticism as:
) engage in pseudoskeptical behavior when they characterize themselves as "skeptics" despite cherry picking evidence that conforms to a preexisting belief. Wilson argues that the characteristic feature of false skepticism is that it "centres not on an impartial search for the truth, but on the defence of a preconceived ideological position".
Psychiatrist
Richard Kluft noted that pseudoskepticism can inhibit research progress:
, particularly in fringe science
fields in which opposition from those within the scientific mainstream or from scientific skeptics is strong. One critic of scientific skepticism argues that those involved in "organized skepticism", which generally rejects paranormal claims, "become adherents of scientism
"."
In 1994, Susan Blackmore
, a parapsychologist who became more skeptical and eventually became a CSICOP fellow in 1991, described what she termed the "worst kind of pseudoskepticism":
Hugo Anthony Meynell
from Department of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary
, labels the "extreme position that all significant evidence supporting paranormal phenomena is a result of deception or lies" as pseudoskepticism.
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
. The term was coined by Marcello Truzzi
Marcello Truzzi
Marcello Truzzi was a professor of sociology at New College of Florida and later at Eastern Michigan University, founding co-chairman of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal , a founder of the Society for Scientific Exploration, and director for the Center for...
, who argued that scientific skepticism is agnostic to new ideas, making no claims about them but waiting for them to satisfy a burden of proof before granting them validity. Pseudoskepticism, by contrast, involves "negative hypotheses" - theoretical assertions that some belief, theory, or claim is factually wrong - without satisfying the burden of proof that such negative theoretical assertions would require.
Pseudoskepticism is related to the more common term 'pseudoscience': the term was originally used to refer to rhetorical arguments which relied on 'non-proof' as a demonstration of 'disproof', usually made in opposition to an assortment of questionable claims (from UFOs and paranormal phenomena to alternative medical practices to religious ideas). The term has gradually been expanded to include any unsubstantiated invalidation of a theory.
The term 'pseudoskepticism', like the term 'pseudoscience', is generally considered pejorative because it implies poor scientific reasoning. Accordingly, those labeled as practicing or advocating pseudoskepticism normally dispute the characterization.
Truzzi's characterization of pseudoskeptics
In 1987, while working as a professor of sociologySociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, Truzzi gave the following description of pseudoskeptics in the journal Zetetic Scholar (which he founded):
Truzzi attributed the following characteristics to pseudoskeptics:
- The tendency to deny, rather than doubt
- Double standards in the application of criticism
- Tendency to discredit, rather than investigate
- Presenting insufficient evidence or proof
- Assuming criticism requires no burden of proof
- Making unsubstantiated counter-claims
- Counter-claims based on plausibility rather than empirical evidence
- Suggesting that unconvincing evidence is grounds for completely dismissing a claim
Truzzi characterized true skepticism as:
- Doubt rather than denial; nonbelief rather than belief
- An agnostic position, one that says the claim is not proved rather than disproved
- Maintaining that science need not incorporate every extraordinary claim as a new "fact"
- Lack of a burden to prove anything
- Upon discovering an opportunity for error in an experiment, taking the position that such an experiment is less evidential and usually unconvincing, and rejecting the claim that the experiment was "airtight" against error, but not assuming that the possible error disproves the anomaly claim
Describing believers in pseudoscience
According to Richard Cameron Wilson, some advocates of discredited intellectual positions (such as AIDS denial and Holocaust denialHolocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
) engage in pseudoskeptical behavior when they characterize themselves as "skeptics" despite cherry picking evidence that conforms to a preexisting belief. Wilson argues that the characteristic feature of false skepticism is that it "centres not on an impartial search for the truth, but on the defence of a preconceived ideological position".
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
Richard Kluft noted that pseudoskepticism can inhibit research progress:
Criticizing scientific skepticism
The term has found occasional use as a counter-criticism against scientific skepticismScientific skepticism
Scientific skepticism is the practice of questioning the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence or reproducibility, as part of a methodological norm pursuing "the extension of certified knowledge". For example, Robert K...
, particularly in fringe science
Fringe science
Fringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline....
fields in which opposition from those within the scientific mainstream or from scientific skeptics is strong. One critic of scientific skepticism argues that those involved in "organized skepticism", which generally rejects paranormal claims, "become adherents of scientism
Scientism
Scientism refers to a belief in the universal applicability of the systematic methods and approach of science, especially the view that empirical science constitutes the most authoritative worldview or most valuable part of human learning to the exclusion of other viewpoints...
"."
In 1994, Susan Blackmore
Susan Blackmore
Susan Jane Blackmore is an English freelance writer, lecturer, and broadcaster on psychology and the paranormal, perhaps best known for her book The Meme Machine.-Career:...
, a parapsychologist who became more skeptical and eventually became a CSICOP fellow in 1991, described what she termed the "worst kind of pseudoskepticism":
Hugo Anthony Meynell
Hugo Anthony Meynell
Hugo Anthony Meynell , Meynell Langley, Derbyshire, England, shortly after the death of his father, Captain Godfrey Meynell, who won the Victoria Cross in action against Afghan raiders in India's Khyber Pass. Hugo grew up as a member of an English family which arrived in England with the Norman...
from Department of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, labels the "extreme position that all significant evidence supporting paranormal phenomena is a result of deception or lies" as pseudoskepticism.