|
There are differing definitions of fringe science. Fringe science may be valid science which is not considered mainstream. Alternatively, it may be a questionable scientific approach to a field of study. In any case, it is an inquiry in an established field of study which departs significantly from the mainstream theory in that field. Mainstream scientists typically regard fringe science as highly speculative or even as actually refuted. Fringe science theories are often advanced by persons who have no traditional academic science background, or by researchers outside the mainstream discipline.〔p. 58〕 The general public has difficulty distinguishing between science and its imitators,〔 and in some cases a "yearning to believe or a generalized suspicion of experts is a very potent incentive to accepting pseudoscientific claims".〔Friedlander, p. 176.〕 The term "fringe science" covers everything from novel hypotheses which can be tested by means of the scientific method to wild ad hoc hypotheses and mumbo jumbo. This has resulted in a tendency to dismiss all fringe science as the domain of pseudoscientists, hobbyists, and cranks. Other terms used for the questionable areas of fringe science are ''pathological science'', ''voodoo science'', and ''cargo cult science''. ''Junk science'' is a term typically used in the political arena to describe ideas considered to be dubious or fraudulent. A concept that was once accepted by the mainstream scientific community may become fringe science because of a later evaluation of previous research. For example, focal infection theory, which held that focal infections of the tonsils or teeth are a primary cause of systemic disease, was once considered to be medical fact. It has since been dismissed because of lack of evidence. Some theories that were once rejected as fringe science, but were eventually accepted as mainstream science, are: *continental drift〔Bell, David, 2005, ''Science, Technology and Culture'', Open University Press, p. 134, ISBN 978-0-335-21326-9〕〔Oreskes, Naomi (2003) *''Plate tectonics: an insider's history of the modern theory of the Earth'' p. 72〕 *the existence of Troy〔Conklin, Wendy (2005) ''Mysteries in History: Ancient History'' p. 39〕〔Hunt, Patrick (2007) ''Ten Discoveries That Rewrote History''〕 * heliocentrism〔JDobrzycki J Editor (1973) ''The reception of Copernicus' heliocentric theory'' p. 311〕 *Norse colonization of the Americas * the Big Bang theory〔Lemonick, Michael D. (2003) ''Echo of the Big Bang'' Princeton University Press p. 7〕 ==Description== The term "fringe science" denotes unorthodox scientific theories and models. Persons who create fringe science may have employed the scientific method in their work, but their results are not accepted by the mainstream scientific community. Fringe science may be advocated by a scientist who has some recognition within the larger scientific community, but this is not always the case. Usually the evidence provided by fringe science is accepted only by a minority and is rejected by most experts. The boundary between fringe science and pseudoscience is disputed. The connotation of "fringe science" is that the enterprise is rational but is unlikely to produce good results for a variety of reasons, including incomplete or contradictory evidence.〔Friedlander, p. 183.〕 The term may be considered pejorative. For example, Lyell D. Henry Jr. wrote that, "fringe science () a term also suggesting kookiness." This characterization is perhaps inspired by the eccentric behavior of many researchers of the kind known colloquially (and with considerable historical precedent) as mad scientists.〔 〕 Although most fringe science is rejected, the scientific community has come to accept some portions of it.〔Friedlander, p. 172.〕 One example of such is plate tectonics, an idea which had its origin in the fringe science of continental drift and was rejected for decades.〔Friedlander, p. 5.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fringe science」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|