Archived Discussion Main / HardOnSoftScience

This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.

From YKTTW Working Title: Soft Sciences

just in case

Homeopathic medicine doesn't belong as an example on this page, because it's not a soft science; it's a form of sympathetic magic. But those quotes are good, so they definitely belong somewhere.

Ross N: Perhaps I am allowing my training in 'soft science' to show (history in my case), but since when did 'intellectual' equate to 'scientist'? The idea that at once comes to mind when I hear the term are political and philosophical thinkers.

Hence my problem with the automatic linking of anti-intellectuals with Science Is Bad or Science Is Wrong. Yes they are anti-intellectual positions but they can be held by an intellectual as a philosophical theory.

Tzetze: Could you suggest a better phrasing, then?

Johnny E: Changed the "anti-intellectualism by intellectuals" line before seeing this. Calling into question the intellectual credentials of a fellow intellectual is not anti-intellectual by any definition.

I thought it was worth pointing out that the examples given in the first Futurama quote about homeopathic medicine aren't homeopathic at all, is that not the case?

Tzetze: Uh, it's got "homeopathic" right in there, but it's from an episode I haven't seen so I have no idea. Anyway, I cut this for non-example-tude.

• Futurama, which has actual physicists on its staff, has taken a couple of pot shots at homeopathic medicine (Being Futurama, however, there's no telling how serious they're being):
  • "Fry and the Slurm Factory":
    Leela: You should try homeopathic medicine, Bender. Try some zinc.
    Bender: I'm 40% zinc.
    Amy: Then take some echinacea, or St. John's Wort.
    Prof. Farnsworth: Or a big, fat placebo! It's all the same crap.
  • "Crimes of the Hot":
    Homeopathic Doctor: I have a degree in homeopathic medicine.
    Civil Defense Van: You've got a degree in baloney. (hoses down doctor)
  • It's Homeopathic medicine, though. It's not a soft science. It's a pseudoscience. Soon we'll have to add anything bashing astrology...

Also, that quote.

My point was that zinc, echinacea and St. John's Wort are not examples of homeopathic medicine.