Interconnected symbols of science, technology, art, and religion within a brain, set against a cosmic background.

Science vs. Pseudoscience: Navigating the Truth in a Complex World

Jordan Keane in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Demystifying the Boundaries of Science and Understanding its Role in Society"

In an era dominated by information, discerning fact from fiction is more critical than ever. The demarcation of science—understanding what truly constitutes scientific knowledge—has become a vital skill. Often, the line between science and pseudoscience is blurred, leading to confusion and the spread of misinformation. This article aims to clarify these boundaries, offering insights into how science interacts with various aspects of our lives, from technology to religion.

The traditional view of science focuses on its separation from pseudoscience. However, this perspective is too narrow. Science has intriguing connections with many non-scientific endeavors that are not necessarily pseudoscientific. Understanding these connections requires a broader view, one that includes the humanities alongside the sciences. This expanded view acknowledges the unique contributions of various fields of knowledge and promotes a more comprehensive understanding of truth.

Let's embark on a journey to explore the multifaceted world of science, its methodologies, and its relationships with other disciplines. By understanding what constitutes reliable knowledge, we can better navigate the complex information landscape and make informed decisions in our daily lives.

What Exactly Is Science? Redefining Knowledge Boundaries

Interconnected symbols of science, technology, art, and religion within a brain, set against a cosmic background.

Classifying human knowledge has a rich history, with efforts dating back to the Middle Ages. Scholars organized disciplines into groups, creating tree-like structures to identify areas worthy of study. While terms like scientia (science), philosophia (philosophy), and ars (art) were used, no single term encompassed all knowledge types. 'Science' originally meant knowledge derived from facts, while 'philosophy' meant 'love of wisdom.'

Over time, the meaning of 'science' evolved. Originally encompassing almost anything one could master, from scholarly learning to practical skills, it gradually narrowed to systematic knowledge. By the 1800s, it specifically denoted the empirical knowledge emerging from 'natural philosophy.' While still associated with the study of nature, today, science includes the study of human behavior and societies.

Reliable Information: A commitment to providing the most reliable information, striving for intersubjective reliability, and aiming for objective knowledge.
Continuous Improvement: A strong drive for improvement through critical appraisals and new investigations, with mechanisms for uncovering and correcting mistakes.
Intellectual Labor: A well-defined division of intellectual labor and mutual respect for each other's competencies.
Growing Interdependence: Increasing interdependence among various knowledge disciplines, fostering collaboration and integration.

The sciences and humanities form a community of knowledge disciplines unified by epistemic criteria. They share a commitment to reliable, intersubjective knowledge, continuous improvement through critical appraisal, a division of intellectual labor, and growing interdependence. This broader definition helps us move beyond the science versus humanities divide, focusing on epistemically relevant categories.

Moving Forward: Embracing a Broader Understanding of Science

In conclusion, focusing solely on the demarcation between science and pseudoscience is limiting. Science has fascinating and complex relationships with many human endeavors that are not pseudoscientific. By embracing a broader concept of science that includes the humanities, we can better understand these relationships and promote a more comprehensive view of knowledge. Understanding these connections is crucial for navigating our socially embedded world and fostering informed decision-making. As we move forward, let's commit to embracing this broader understanding of science, promoting critical thinking, and valuing the unique contributions of all fields of knowledge.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199368815.013.27, Alternate LINK

Title: Science And Non-Science

Journal: Oxford Handbooks Online

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Authors: Sven Ove Hansson

Published: 2015-07-09

Everything You Need To Know

How has the definition of 'science' evolved over time, and what elements define it today?

Science, in its current understanding, goes beyond just 'knowledge derived from facts.' It now encompasses the study of both the natural world and human behavior and societies. Its core principles include a commitment to reliable information, striving for intersubjective reliability to achieve objective knowledge, a strong drive for continuous improvement through critical appraisals and new investigations with mechanisms for uncovering and correcting mistakes. It also has a well-defined division of intellectual labor and mutual respect for each other's competencies, as well as an increasing interdependence among various knowledge disciplines, fostering collaboration and integration.

Why is focusing solely on the difference between science and pseudoscience considered a limited view?

The traditional view primarily focuses on differentiating science from pseudoscience. However, this is a limited view. A broader understanding recognizes that science has intriguing and complex relationships with numerous human endeavors, including fields like the humanities, technology and religion. These are not necessarily pseudoscientific but contribute uniquely to knowledge and our understanding of the world. The demarcation between science and pseudoscience is only one aspect of the broader role of science in society.

How do fields like technology and religion differ from science, and why is understanding these differences important?

Fields like technology and religion are distinct from science. Technology is focused on practical applications and innovations, often utilizing scientific knowledge to create new tools and solve problems. Religion, on the other hand, deals with faith, spirituality, and moral frameworks, which are not based on empirical evidence or testable hypotheses like science. While these fields may intersect with science, their methodologies and goals differ significantly. Understanding these differences is crucial for a comprehensive view of knowledge.

How do the sciences and humanities form a community of knowledge, and what principles do they share?

The sciences and the humanities form a community of knowledge disciplines unified by epistemic criteria. They both share a commitment to reliable, intersubjective knowledge. They have a drive for continuous improvement through critical appraisal, a division of intellectual labor, and a growing interdependence. By recognizing these shared principles, we can bridge the gap between these fields and foster a more integrated and comprehensive understanding of the world. This collaboration is essential for tackling complex problems that require both scientific and humanistic insights.

What are the key strategies for improving understanding of science and it's role in understanding truth?

To improve understanding of science requires critical thinking. By understanding the methodologies and principles of science, as well as its relationships with other disciplines, individuals can better evaluate information and make informed decisions. It also means embracing a broader concept of science that includes the humanities, recognizing the unique contributions of all fields of knowledge. Additionally, it's about fostering collaboration and integration among various disciplines to promote a more comprehensive view of truth.