Rationalizing with Bad Pseudoscience

This weekend, I decided to go to an occult/paranormal expo. While these sorts of events definitely cater to the New Age and paranormalist crowd far more than to a Neopagan like myself, we do share some overlapping interests that get me to attend one very so often. There were some great artists present, along with wonderful incense and lots of shiny objects.

I was looking at a vendor who was selling those salt lamps. I've been thinking about getting one because they look neat (for those of you who don't know what they are, this is what I'm talking about). I said as much to the vendor, and also mentioned that if I got one, I didn't know where I would put it. The vendor launched into this speech about the "science" of this rock and how the "negative ions" could have certain health benefits; this should determine where I put it. I was wincing hard inside, because I asked the question mostly because I don't think I have the shelf space or an outlet to plug it into that is freed up. Instead I was getting a load of bad pseudoscientific rubbish that I really wanted to shoot down. I was polite, but I certainly wasn't going to buy a salt lamp from the vendor after that.

These kinds of things really bother me because I'm into this kind of stuff, but I also have a very strong science background. Mystical practices have tremendous value in of themselves, but this kind of hokum makes it look bad. I'm sick of this tendency by some occult-types to prop up their beliefs with science, because they typically do it badly. If you're going to incorporate science into your path - and I definitely do - at least do it correctly with actual science, not this bad pseudoscience. I like to think that this kind of bad pseudoscience rationalization isn't common. Then I go to fairs like this and wonder if I'm an aberration. I get annoyed at the skeptics who rail against mystical practices for "not getting it" (at least somewhat true) but then I see people like this who sadly prove their points. What's a scientist-mystic to do? I suppose I continue to be an apparent contradiction who in one discussion gets accused of being a narrow-minded scientist/skeptic and in another gets accused of being a brains-falling-out believer.

I just thought I'd share this story. Any comments or reactions are welcome. Feel free to share some tales of your own about bad pseudoscience.

Which is why i am so independent. Good luck. The scene is just getting more cluttered imo.

Sadly, not too many people even have a good functional understanding of the technical aspects of the very activities they live from. And mystification with "science" (within quotes) is certainly very common; it appeals to human needs of security and having ready answers.

I guess we all will just have to accept that it happens and will continue happening until major educational and sociological advance is realized.

People seem to want to believe what makes them happy or content without being encumbered by facts. This, of course, is not new and will probably never change. (The words 'snake oil' come to mind.) Recently we met a lady who has a degree in basically clinical psychology and therapy. She opened a weight reduction/physical therapy business. Her ads touted wondrously helpful machines and devices, miraculous exercise programs, and magical diets. However she, and at least two of her staff members, were at least 30 pounds overweight. Go figure.

Negative ions can heal you? Great that I use so much salt in my cooking, then

But yeah, pseudoscience is used profusely in the promotion of new age cures. People want their world view to be supported by science, and when they find that it isn't they seek people who claim that it is.

mycorrhiza said:

But yeah, pseudoscience is used profusely in the promotion of new age cures. People want their world view to be supported by science, and when they find that it isn't they seek people who claim that it is.

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The beautiful thing about pseudoscience is that it leaves out all the hard parts of real science: there's never any maths for a start, so practitioners can drivel on about energy fields and the like without any fear of being asked to do uncool things like measure them or describe them in quantitative terms. You get all the kudos of sciency-sounding language with none of the hard mental effort real science needs.

Well, I have no problem with energy work. It's one of three major practices of my path, but what ticks me off is when people try to couch it in scientific terms. To me, it doesn't become pseudoscience until you start making claims that it's somehow scientific. Energy work isn't scientific, it's intuitive/emotional/mystical/psychological. I've found the chakra system incredibly useful in facilitating my own personal well-being, but the hell if I'm going to claim it's "scientific."

Quintessence said:

Well, I have no problem with energy work. It's one of three major practices of my path, but what ticks me off is when people try to couch it in scientific terms. To me, it doesn't become pseudoscience until you start making claims that it's somehow scientific. Energy work isn't scientific, it's intuitive/emotional/mystical/psychological. I've found the chakra system incredibly useful in facilitating my own personal well-being, but the hell if I'm going to claim it's "scientific."

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From the site I linked to:

An aura is an energy field that surrounds, penetrates and extends out beyond the physical body, that is electromagnetic, electric and magnetic and is made up of varying types of live and intelligent vibrations or frequencies.

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The words I've bolded are surely nothing if not an attempt to couch the claim in scientific terms.

johnhanks said:

From the site I linked to:
The words I've bolded are surely nothing if not an attempt to couch the claim in scientific terms.

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In the case you linked to, you're probably right; not all writings on energy work do this, however. The ones I favor avoid it successfully.

I'd also like to mention that mystics/occultists/arcanists (whatever the heck you want to call us) often struggle with what vocabulary to apply to our experiences, and sometimes we do end up borrowing terminology from other sources. Because of that, using terms also used in science isn't always an indication of an attempt to be "scientific," though it certainly can be. It's sometimes hard to tell the difference, even as an insider. >_>

Quintessence said:

In the case you linked to, you're probably right; not all writings on energy work do this, however. The ones I favor avoid it successfully.

I'd also like to mention that mystics/occultists/arcanists (whatever the heck you want to call us) often struggle with what vocabulary to apply to our experiences, and sometimes we do end up borrowing terminology from other sources. Because of that, using terms also used in science isn't always an indication of an attempt to be "scientific," though it certainly can be. It's sometimes hard to tell the difference, even as an insider. >_>

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You should write a dictionary.

Pseudoscience: the real-world, semi-mystic equivalent to technobabble.

I will admit that I used to be guilty of misusing scientific terms I didn't rightly understand back in ye olde days, though these days I'm more careful.

But this is quite common, not only among New Agers and Neopagans, but the general population. Science is still somewhat arcane and mysterious to non-scientists, and it doesn't help that most people hear scientific vocabulary in TV, movies, games, etc. as technobabble.

My solution is that for any story I tell that features scientific language, use the terms accurately or not at all.

I want a salt-crystal now. They look awesome and I would like to lick one while its plugged into a socket.

Quintessence said:

Well, I have no problem with energy work. It's one of three major practices of my path, but what ticks me off is when people try to couch it in scientific terms. To me, it doesn't become pseudoscience until you start making claims that it's somehow scientific. Energy work isn't scientific, it's intuitive/emotional/mystical/psychological. I've found the chakra system incredibly useful in facilitating my own personal well-being, but the hell if I'm going to claim it's "scientific."

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I thought vibrations could be measured scientifically in MHz or on a wavelength..correct me if im wrong.

Although I do agree that alot of the "energy" I have experimented with falls into the emotional/psychological category.(like visualizing dog biscuits and passing them to my dog, who totally gets excited and can probably smell treats) To me its as simple as believing that having a clear mind and a positive outlook attracts good energy and vice-versa. Green is my favorite color .

Slapstick said:

I want a salt-crystal now. They look awesome and I would like to lick one while its plugged into a socket.

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lol.