Systematicity is necessary but not sufficient: on the problem of facsimile science

摘要: Paul Hoyningen-Huene argues that what makes scientific knowledge special is its systematic character, and this can be used to solve the demarcation problem. He labels STDC: “Systematicity Theory’s Demarcation Criterion.” This paper STDC fails, because there are areas of intellectual activity highly systematic, but great majority scientists historians philosophers science do not accept as scientific. These include homepathy, creationism, climate change denial. I designate these activities “facsimile sciences” they mimic appearance not, by standards scientists, suggests we need additional criteria demarcate from non-science and/ or nonsense.