The Gordian Knot of Demarcation: Tying Up Some Loose Ends

ABSTRACT

In this article, I seek to improve upon a definition of pseudoscience put forward by Sven Ove Hansson. I argue that not only does its use of ‘pseudoscientific statement’ as definiendum inadequately address the theoretical issue of demarcation, it also makes the definition inapt for practical demarcation. Moreover, I argue that Hanson’s definition subsumes statements and associated practices that are forms of bad science, resulting in an unfavourably wide concept. I try to save the definition from the brunt of this critique by arguing that some pseudoscientific statements are particularly significant when demarcating a discipline as a pseudoscience.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful for constructive feedback and helpful suggestions by Finnur Dellsén, Anstein Gregersen, Knut Olav Skarsaune, Stefán Snævarr, Terje Ødegaard, Sigbjørn Hernes, and the two anonymous referees for ISPS.

ORCID

Kåre Letrud http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5434-8227