Pathological science

Pathological science is a term created by the Nobel Prize-winning chemist Irving Langmuir during a colloquium at The Knolls Research Laboratory, December 18, 1953. Some scientists use the term to imply scientific misconduct on part of other researchers. Critics of the concept argue that it fails to offer criteria that distinguish lasting discoveries (and other scientific studies) from mere fads and fallacies and that it could be applied to many revolutionary discoveries of the past. Critics also urge others to abandon the phrase.

Table of contents

1 Pathological science 2 Criticisms 3 See also 4 External links and bibliography

Pathological science

Pathological science describes a psychological process in which a scientist, originally conforming to scientific method, unconsciously veers from that method, and begins a pathological process of wishful data interpretation. Criteria for pathological science are:

• The maximum effect that is observed is produced by a causative agent of barely detectable intensity, and the magnitude of the effect is substantially independent of the intensity of the cause.
• The effect is of a magnitude that remains close to the limit of detectability, or many measurements are necessary because of the very low statistical significance of the results.
• There are claims of great accuracy.
• Fantastic theories contrary to experience are suggested.
• Criticisms are met by ad hoc excuses thought up on the spur of the moment.
• The ratio of supporters to critics rises and then falls gradually to oblivion.

The theory of N rays is now universally regarded as pathological while electrochemistry's cold fusion, chemistry's polywater theory, and medicine's homeopathy remain controversial.

Criticisms

Ironically, Langmuir was a supporter of the cubical atom, a theory that ultimately befell the same fate as N rays.

Mainstream sciences have failed historically to approve of certain sciences till years later and inappropriately label them as pathological. Examples of sciences that have been misappropriately described as pathological sciences:

• Linus Pauling's work with vitamins (in particular, vitamin C) [Leading 20th century chemist]
• C. G. Barkla's J-phenomenon (Barkla's 1917 Nobel Prize in physics was for X-rays; the J-phenomenon is X-ray absorption discontinuities at high frequency)
• Sir Arthur Eddington's "fundamental theory" (pioneer in theoretical astronomy)
• Halton Arp astronomical work in the red-shifts phenonomena (rejecting his contempories theories; wrote "Quasar, Redshifts and Controversies").
• Hannes Alfvén's plasma cosmology (Alfvén won the 1970 Nobel Prize for space plasma)
• Mpemba effect that hot water can freeze faster than cold
• Stanley B. Prusiner's prions were originally ridiculed. Pruisner won a Nobel Prize in 1997 for his discovery.
• Ignaz Semmelweis's innovations in hygene in the 1840s were ridiculed by the medical establishment. As a result, many thousands of women continued to die unnecessarily in child-birth. Semmelweis was hounded from his job and died in an insane asylum.

See also

• Science
  • Scientific method
    • List of topics
  • Protoscience
  • Pseudoarchaeology
  • Pseudoscience
  • Junk science
  • Bad science
• List of speculative or fringe theories
• Conspiracy theory

External links and bibliography

• Langmuir, I. and R. N. Hall., "Pathological Science". Colloquium at The Knolls Research Laboratory, December 18, 1953.
• Langmuir, Irving, and Robert N. Hall. "Pathological science". Physics Today 42 (10): 36-48. 1989.
• Bauer, Henry H., " 'Pathological Science' is not Scientific Misconduct (nor is it pathological)". Highland Circle, Blacksburg, VA.
• Kowalski, Ludwik, "Pathological Science" (N-rays story). Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, N.J.
• Carroll, Robert Todd, "''pathological science". The Skeptic's Dictionary.
• Wilson, James R., "Doctoral colloquium keynote address conduct, misconduct, and cargo cult science". Department of Industrial Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Turro, Nicholas J., "Toward a general theory of pathological science". 21stC: Issue 3.4 Strange Science.
• Wallace, Bryan G., "The Farce of Physics : Pathological Physics. Texinfo Edition 1.01, November 1994.
• Wallace, Bryan G., "Pathological Physics". St. Petersburg, FL.
• Wynne, B., "G. G. Barkla and the J-Phenomenon: a Case Study of the Treatment of Deviance in Physics", Social Studies of Science, Vol.6, 1976, pp.307-4 (abstract)