This document discusses the key differences between science and pseudo-science. It defines science as relying on evidence from meaningful experiments and testing of hypotheses, while pseudo-science lacks experiments and relies on subjective beliefs. Evolution and acupuncture are provided as examples of science, while flat earth theory and creationism represent pseudo-science. The document emphasizes that science is testable and falsifiable, while pseudo-science is not, and that scientific theories are constantly updated based on new evidence.

1. Natural Science and “pseudo-science”Presenter: NanaseIsakaResearch Assistant: Manaka Yamaguchi

2. ScienceDefinition- understanding nature of science through evidence, meaningful experiments, weighing of possibilities, testing hypothesis, and establishing theories, to get to conclusionExamples 1) Evolution 2) Acupuncture

3. Example of Science -EvolutionEvidence- fossil, Galapagos IslandsWell researched by biologistsIt can be changed when proven wrong

4. Example of Science -AcupunctureEvidence / research- Skin release adenosine when puncturedExperiment- Using leukemic rats

5. Pseudo-scienceDefinitionlack of experiment. rely on myth, or religion.

6. subjective validation- look at the evidence that supports their belief to rationalize it and miss out the contradicting ones

7. no progressExampleFlat Earth

8. CreationismExample of Pseudo-Science –Flat EarthSupporters: the International Flat Earth Research Society Beliefs: the earth is flat and plane and that it does not spin and whirl at 1000 miles/hour. Belief that earth is sphere is prejudice-nothing to support it, and that pictures prove nothing. The explanation they give is: Earth is circle. North Pole in center and South Pole is spread around edge. When go around the world you travel around the circle. Objects seem to disappear when they go away because of the laws of perspective. The further the object is the smaller it gets.

9. Example of Pseudo-Science –CreationismThe belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation, as in the biblical account, rather than by natural processes such as evolution.Creationists are strongly opposed to a world brought on by evolution e.g.) Charles Darwin’s Origin of SpeciesThe experiment haven’t been conducted and no prooftherefore, it is not science, but pseudo scienceDifference Whether scientific hypotheses are testable or not.Vagueness -if a statement is sufficiently vague, it will be impossible to verify or falsify it. e.g.) ‘Quartz crystals can restore the balance and energy of your life’Need some kind of criteria (preferably measurable ones) Ad hoc exceptions ‘All swans are white’ showing a black one’All swans are white except that mutation’Good hypothesis is one that is general in nature and does not keep making exceptions every time it meets counter-examples.

10. DifferenceIndicators- importance of evidence, meaningful experiments, hypothesis, theories as result.Scienceconstantly updated ex) textbookPseudo-science- no updating

11. Ways of KnowingPseudoScienceScienceBothPerception- Language- Reason- Emotion