Preliminary communication

SCIENCE AND PSEUDOSCIENCE IN POSTMODERN SOCIETIES

Željko Pavić ; Department of Culturology, University J. J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Enlightenment envisaged that humanity shall emerge from „self-imposed immaturity“ and replace all forms of prejudice and ignorance with scientific knowledge. However, contemporary research show that in spite of growth of education levels, scientific literacy and scientific-technological achievements we could even speak about revitalization of pseudoscience. The author tries to show that, besides the spread of communication technologies and media which bring about „democratization“ of knowledge and profit interests, this revitalization can be explained by the characteristics of postmodern societies as risk societies and by the inability of science to provide all-encompassing worldviews. Technological and social complexity causes human-created risks and new forms of uncertainty, whilst the individualization causes decline of trust in people and societal institutions. By analyzing alternative medicine, creationism, astrology and pseudohistory the author tries to show that, due to its methodical skepsis and self-limitation, science cannot provide those forms of symbolic safety which pseudoscience manages to do.

Keywords

science; pseudoscience; postmodern society; risk society; identity; astrology; alternative medicine

Hrčak ID:

106433

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106433

Publication date:

30.6.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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