Profiles

The term 'pseudo science' should be abolished

By Jessie Tao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-12-05 17:25

Song Zhenghai, a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), has recently launched a campaign among academic circles, calling for the elimination of the term 'pseudo science'.

In an email titled "don't let 'pseudo science' become a pretext for whipping traditional culture," Song called for hundreds of scholars to sign for the abolition of the term 'pseudo science', which he says has been overused and has taken a toll on the country's traditional culture, reported the Beijing Morning Post on Monday.

In a cartoon about pseudo science, the womanl tells the man that all toxins inside her body have been eiliminated.[baidu.com]

According to Song, 'pseudo science', originally referring to fabricated or plagiarized scientific achievements, is being used to attack traditional Chinese culture, and the grassroots science it is based on.

In the email, Song asked academic circles to do three things: give a clear definition of science; use the term pseudo science prudently; and take the term pseudo-science out of the Science Diffusive Law.

Song's campaign was embraced by more than 150 scholars, but was deemed "ridiculous, sheer nonsense" by He Zuoxiu, a senior physicist and an academician at CAS, who has always been a staunch opponent of pseudo-science.

He strongly opposed Song's suggestion, saying science should follow international conventions and claming those supporters were seeking a pretext for falsified science.

Song believes the overuse of the term pseudo-science creates a distinct disadvantage that hinders the development of traditional science and technologies that are considered outside the western scientific system, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

"It may also stifle people's innovative spirit." Song was quoted as saying.

Li Zhichao, a professor with China University of Technology agreed with Song, saying that many people use the term pseudo science to name things they don't agree with.

"Real science is all about new and unknown things, therefore, we should welcome different voices and advocate diversity." Li told the paper.

"Science, an imported concept from western countries, has a set of internationally recognized rules, but there are people who are using the word without really identifying themselves with these rules. That's not allowed within academic circles." the paper cites He as saying.

"It is okay to have an opinion, but wrong to diffuse it in the name of science," He added.

Guo Zhengyi, former director of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, also thought Song was campaigning for pseudo science.

"Pseudo science is not science, but a term used to label things that appear to be the latest scientific developments, such as water turning into oil or perpetual-motion machine, but which in fact don't exists," Guo said. "We are not branding every thing as pseudo science, but as scientists we have to take the lead to snuff these things out."