Practical Considerations

From a practical point of view, demarcation of the effectual from the unproductive is extremely important in our private and public lives. Because of science’s high status, salesmen exaggerate the scientific status of various claims, teachings, and products. Some concrete examples follow:

Healthcare: Pseudoscience gives rise to bogus and sometimes dangerous “cures”. Doctors, insurers, taxpayers and we patients can suffer greatly if we are unable to distinguish between medical science and medical pseudoscience.

Products: Is a set of loudspeaker cables totally purged of oxygen really worth $6000.

Court testimony: Don’t we want the decisions made in court to be based on the best available knowledge? Especially when we intend to lock up or execute a potential criminal.

Environmental policies: Don’t we want to use the best information and methods to protect ourselves from environmental hazards. Do we want to suppress true progress based on fear and not of reliable investigation?

Science education: Promoters of pseudoscience (notably creationism) try to introduce their teachings on school curricula. Teachers and school authorities need to have clear criteria of inclusion that protect students against unreliable and disproved teachings.