Science and Pseudo-science

In a thoughtful column in the NYT this Thursday, Massimo Pigliucci (@mpigliucci) and Maarten Boudry (@mboudry) argue for a clear distinction between science and pseudo-science.

The Four (-1) Horsemen

The paradox is that people working for good in the world (helping people, overcoming hardship and helping others do so) can only, if experience serves, be carried and inspired by some sense of an absolute Truth. In order to deliberately forfeit our own material benefits, we need to ascribe it some sort of meaning, probably derived from our morality —there has to be a reason for our actions.