Seminar: 1

Written preparation questions

Q1- Scientific definitions
a) What are two major types of definitions, and what are their
differences?
The two major types of definitions are:
1. Lexical definition: is the type of definition which is commonly used by
people. These definitions are likely to found in a dictionary, and can be
too broad or too narrow if definiens is applicable to more than what
definition covers and if definiens do not cover everything that
definiendum covers respectively. [1], [2]
2. Stipulative definitions: is rather based on the how the author intends to
use the word. These definitions are usually developed to increase the
precision of the words. [1],[3]

b) Give one example of an ambiguous word not found in the texts,

and explain why it is ambiguous.
A word or a phrase can be called ambiguous if it can be interpreted to have
more than one meaning.
Example: There is a change is the weather of Stockholm.
In this sentence the word change is ambiguous. As this change may refer
to many things like the weather in Stockholm is rainier, colder or hotter,
etc.

c) How would you define bald for a dictionary? How would you
define it in a scientific context? Why?
As the dictionary usually consists of lexical definitions, I would define bald
as a person who has little or no hair on his/her head is bald.
For a scientific context the definition needs to be more specific about the
boundaries of the definition, also the definition should not be too broad or
too narrow. A proper scientific definition of bald according to me will be a
person with absolutely no hair on head is bald. This definition does not
include people with a few hair hence reducing the ambiguity of the word.

Q2- Science and pseudoscience

a) In what contexts, and why, can the issue of demarcation have
practical application?
The demarcation of science from pseudoscience is important as science is
a widely facts based and should not be confused with pseudoscience.
Science is most reliable source of knowledge in many fields, hence there
should be clear distinction between science and pseudoscience.
Demarcation of science can be important in fileds such as healthcare,
expert testimony, environmental policies and science education. For
example pseudoscience in healthcare can reult in inefficient and
dangerous outcomes, which should be avoided by providing good guidance
on medical science and medical pseudoscience. [4]
b) Is fraud a form of pseudoscience? Why, why not?
Fraud can not be referred as pseudoscience because according to
definition of pseudoscience, to be pseudoscientific a statement needs to
satisfy 3 basic conditions, but fraud does not fulfil the criteria that is It is
part of a doctrine whose major proponents try to create the impression
that it represents the most reliable knowledge on its subject matter (the
criterion of deviant doctrine) Page 9 [4]
c) What definition of pseudoscience in the wider sense does the
text give?
There are 3 conditions that a statement needs to fulfil to be considered
scientific, these are [4]:
1. It pertains to an issue within the domains of science in the broad sense
(the criterion of scientific domain)
2. It suffers from such a severe lack of reliability that it cannot at all be
trusted (the criterion of unreliability)
3. It is part of a doctrine whose major proponents try to create the
impression that it represents the most reliable knowledge on its subject
matter (the criterion of deviant doctrine)