You can't beat the system?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

You know, the problem with devout scientism followers is that when a "science" is debunked and is relegated to the status of a pseudo-science they just turn round and say that it was never a "real scotsman science" to begin with. Not only is that Win/Win for their side but it tends to obscure the [I want to say fact but I'll stick to] issue that not all "science" as performed  by human actors is as good as the best.

Interesting that you use the example of the computer. While not disputing that there is science involved in computing I would actually place the PC firmly in the maths, technology and engineering camp;  just a thought.

There is definitely what you could call "bad" science, that's anything from carelessly researched, poorly written, or deliberately misleading. Check out Ben Goldacre's website: http://www.badscience.net/ there's a link to his TED talk there too.

[MMIX]

You know, the problem with devout scientism followers is that when a "science" is debunked and is relegated to the status of a pseudo-science they just turn round and say that it was never a "real scotsman science" to begin with. Not only is that Win/Win for their side but it tends to obscure the [I want to say fact but I'll stick to] issue that not all "science" as performed  by human actors is as good as the best.

Interesting that you use the example of the computer. While not disputing that there is science involved in computing I would actually place the PC firmly in the maths, technology and engineering camp;  just a thought.

There is definitely what you could call "bad" science, that's anything from carelessly researched, poorly written, or deliberately misleading. Check out Ben Goldacre's website: http://www.badscience.net/ there's a link to his TED talk there too.

Lol, thats where I was just before I wrote that. Good link
ETA This one is quite fun from a UK perspective http://www.dcscience.net/?p=4615

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

You know, the problem with devout scientism followers is that when a "science" is debunked and is relegated to the status of a pseudo-science they just turn round and say that it was never a "real scotsman science" to begin with. Not only is that Win/Win for their side but it tends to obscure the [I want to say fact but I'll stick to] issue that not all "science" as performed  by human actors is as good as the best.

Interesting that you use the example of the computer. While not disputing that there is science involved in computing I would actually place the PC firmly in the maths, technology and engineering camp;  just a thought.

Lol, thats where I was just before I wrote that. Good link
There is definitely what you could call "bad" science, that's anything from carelessly researched, poorly written, or deliberately misleading. Check out Ben Goldacre's website: http://www.badscience.net/ there's a link to his TED talk there too.

ETA This one is quite fun from a UK perspective http://www.dcscience.net/?p=4615

Oooh, nice! Thanks for the link!

[Sano]

Interesting that you use the example of the computer. While not disputing that there is science involved in computing I would actually place the PC firmly in the maths, technology and engineering camp;  just a thought.

There wouldn't be a pc in the world if we didn't know what electricity is and how it behaves. Same for the behavior of all the different materials involved in the construction of one.

[MMIX]

Interesting that you use the example of the computer. While not disputing that there is science involved in computing I would actually place the PC firmly in the maths, technology and engineering camp;  just a thought.

There wouldn't be a pc in the world if we didn't know what electricity is and how it behaves. Same for the behavior of all the different materials involved in the construction of one.

I would suggest that it is not so much about "knowing what electricity is and how it behaves" as it is about applying technological constraints to electricity, (which after all does exist in its wild form in nature,) to produce outcomes which are advantageous to humans. Interestingly humans are the primary materials involved in the construction of PCs.