Difference between revisions of "Cargo cult science"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m (cats) |
m (typo) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Cargo cult science''' is a name invented by [[Richard Feynman]] to name an apparent "scientific activity" that many scientists are engaged in that only looks like scientific activity because of use of language proper for this particular branch of science but not containing any substance beyond similarity to [[science]]. | '''Cargo cult science''' is a name invented by [[Richard Feynman]] to name an apparent "scientific activity" that many scientists are engaged in that only looks like scientific activity because of use of language proper for this particular branch of science but not containing any substance beyond similarity to [[science]]. | ||
| − | The name came from natives of New Guinea and other Pacific islands who build in jungle something that looks like controll towers in hope that gods seeing them will send them cargo | + | The name came from natives of New Guinea and other Pacific islands who build in jungle something that looks like controll towers in hope that gods seeing them will send them cargo planes with all those goods that other people enjoy receiving from gods, as those natives imagine the reasons for gods sending cargo planes to the earth. |
One example of a cargo cult science is [[Complementary and Alternative Medicine]]. | One example of a cargo cult science is [[Complementary and Alternative Medicine]]. | ||
[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||
[[Category:Pseudoscience]] | [[Category:Pseudoscience]] | ||
Revision as of 18:07, September 18, 2011
Cargo cult science is a name invented by Richard Feynman to name an apparent "scientific activity" that many scientists are engaged in that only looks like scientific activity because of use of language proper for this particular branch of science but not containing any substance beyond similarity to science.
The name came from natives of New Guinea and other Pacific islands who build in jungle something that looks like controll towers in hope that gods seeing them will send them cargo planes with all those goods that other people enjoy receiving from gods, as those natives imagine the reasons for gods sending cargo planes to the earth.
One example of a cargo cult science is Complementary and Alternative Medicine.