science: [[Old French < scientia < sciens, prp. Of scire, to know, orig., to discern, distinguish < Indo-European base *skie-, to cut, separate > SHEATH, SHIN1, SHIP, SKI, Latin scindere, to cut]] 1 Orig, the state or fact of knowledge; knowledge 2 systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, and experimentation carried on in order to determine the nature or principles of what is being studied 3 a branch of knowledge or study, esp. one concerned with establishing and systematizing facts, principles, and methods, as by experiments and hypotheses [the science of mathematics] 4 a) the systematized knowledge of nature and the physical world b) any branch of this: see NATURAL SCIENCE 5 skill based upon systematized training [the science of cooking]

psuedoscience: n. any system of methods, theories, etc. that presumes without warrant to have a scientific basis or application

When I say science is the pursuit of Truth, I am implying it is the pursuit of truth using definition 2. That is to say, science is pursuit derived from observation, study and experimentation carried on in order to determine the nature or principles (i.e. the Truth of what is being studied).  Technically, I am saying, “Science is the use of observation, study, and experimentation carries on in order to discover the Truth, as it pertains to the object of observation, study and experimentation.”

When I say psuedoscience is the pursuit of an agenda, I mean that someone is pretending to be using the scientific method in order to prove the correctness of his or her agenda.  Technically, I am saying, “Psuedoscience is the use of observation, study and experimentation carried on in order to further an agenda.”

If you would like a more detailed explanation as to the nature of science and pseudoscience, click here

A questioner who asked, “Isn’t ritual a psuedoscience, because it is the pursuit of an agenda?” forced me into creating this page.  I do not know if she was being difficult for the sake of being difficult, or if this was a reflection on her high-school education.  I assumed that the reader would take this admittedly bold statement (made more for dramatic effect that strict literal definition) and understand my meaning.  Evidently, I was wrong.  Ritual is neither science nor psuedoscience, because it is not the pursuit of knowledge.  Just as using the technology of a VCR is not science, even if one is watching a documentary.

Now, continue reading