AN ANALYSIS OF THE DEMARCATION PROBLEM IN PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATION TO HOMEOPATHY

Year 2018, Issue: 25, 91 - 107, 01.04.2018

Alper Bilgehan Yardımcı

Abstract

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of homeopathy from the perspective of the demarcation problem in the philosophy of science. In this context, Popper, Kuhn and Feyerabend’s solution to the problem will be given respectively and their criteria will be applied to homeopathy, aiming to shed some light on the controversy over its scientific status. It then examines homeopathy under the lens of demarcation criteria to conclude that homeopathy is regarded as science by Feyerabend and is considered as pseudoscience by Popper and Kuhn. By offering adequate tools for the analysis of the foundations, structure and implications of homeopathy, demarcation issue can help to clarify this medical controversy. The main argument of this article is that a final decision on homeopathy, whose scientific status changes depending on the criteria of the philosophers mentioned, cannot be given

Keywords

Demarcation Problem, Scientific Status of Homeopathy, Falsifiability, Puzzle-solving, Anarchist Method, Pseudoscience

BİLİM FELSEFESİNDE SINIR ÇİZME SORUNUNUN ANALİZİ VE HOMEOPATİYE UYGULANMASI

Abstract

Bu makale, bilim felsefesinin önemli konularından biri olan sınır çizme sorunu açısından homeopatinin bir ön analizini sunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, Popper, Kuhn ve Feyerabend'in sınır çizme sorununa yönelik çözümleri sırasıyla verilecek ve onların ölçütleri, homeopatinin bilimsel durumu üzerindeki tartışmalara ışık tutacak şekilde uygulanacaktır. Homeopatinin Feyerabend tarafından bilim, Popper ve Kuhn açısından ise sözde bilim olduğu sonucuna varmak amacıyla, homeopati sınır çizme ölçütleri çerçevesinde incelenmektedir. Sınır çizme tartışması homeopatinin temellerini, yapısını ve sonuçlarını analiz etmek için yeterli araçları sunarak bu tıbbi tartışmayı netleştirmeye yardımcı olabilir. Bu makalenin temel argümanı, bahsi geçen filozofların ölçütlerine bağlı olarak homeopatinin bilimsel durumu hakkında nihai bir kararın verilemeyeceğidir

Keywords

Sınır Çizme Sorunu, Homeopatinin Bilimsel Durumu, Yanlışlanabilirlik, Bulmaca-çözme, Anarşist Metot, Sözdebilim

References

• Einstein, A. (1935), The World As I See It, Trans: A. Harris, John Lane, London. Evans, R. (2005), “Science, Technology, & Human Values, Demarcation Socialized: Constructing Boundaries and Recognizing Difference”, Sage Publications, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 3-16.
• Feyerabend, P. (1975), Against Method: Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge. Verso, London.
• Feyerabend, P. (1978), Science In A Free Society, Verso, London, 1978.
• Hahnemann, S. (1984), Organon Of Medicine, 6th. Edition, Trans. RE Dudgeon, B Jain.
• Hands, D. W. (1977), “Against Method: Outline Of An Anarchistic Theory Of Knowledge By Paul K. Feyerabend”, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 897-899.
• Hansson, S. O. (2008), “Science And Pseudo-Science”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL =
• http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2017/entries/pseudoscience/. Kuhn, T. (1970), The Structure Of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd ed., University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
• Kuhn, T. (1974), “Logic Of Discovery Or Psychology Of Research?”, P.A. Schilpp, Open Court, La Salle, pp. 798–819.
• Laudan, L. (1983), “The Demise Of The Demarcation Problem”, in Physics, Philosophy and Psychoanalysis Edition, Dordrecht, Reidel, pp. 111- 128.
• Loudon, I. (2006), “A Brief History Of Homeopathy”, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Vol. 99, No. 12, pp. 607-610.
• Mayo, D. G. (1996), “Ducks, Rabbits, And Normal Science: Recasting The Kuhn's-Eye View Of Popper's Demarcation Of Science”, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 271–290.
• Nagel, E. (1977), “Against Method: Outline Of An Anarchistic Theory Of Knowledge By Paul K. Feyerabend”, American Political Science Association, Vol. 71, No. 3, pp. 1132-1134.
• Oxford Dictionaries (2018), Homeopathy And Anarchy. (08.01.2018).
• https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/homeopathy and https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/anarchy
• Popper, K. (1959), The Logic Of Scientific Discovery, Hutchinson, London.
• Popper, K. (1974), Reply to My Critics, Open Court, La Salle.