Science, Pseudo-science and the origins of 'science' Flashcards
What is the goal of science?
to explain the objective laws and properties that govern the natural world, this is done through the use of empirical observation and experimentation.
what makes ‘science’ science?
meeting certain conceptual conditions during scientific inquiry, arriving at a conclusion through systematic methods based on evidence and rigor, establish facts through: research, observing, testing hypothesis etc
Indicators for spotting bad science
problems with sample size, bias, conflict of interest, data falsification
Early scientific methods to understand criminality
1800’s attempts to understand law-breaking and criminality, 19th century witnessed the formation of a new form of knowledge known as ‘science of criminology’, late 18th and 19th centuries, social science was underdeveloped, thus allowing medical professionals to take a leading role in explaining criminal behaviour
Benjamin Rush (Upon the diseases of the mind)
argued mental illness was a disease of the brain that should be treated with medical techniques, rejecting supernatural explanations. some of his theories and treatments were ineffective or harsh by modern standards, helped promote mental illness as a medical issue requiring treatment.
Philippe Pinel (Treatise on insanity)
helped reform treatment of mental patients in France, arguing for moral treatment of patients, rejected supernatural theories, viewing insanity as a neurological disorder, his theory aimed to understand mental patients and interact with them with empathy.
James Prichard
influential in establishment of scientific foundations of mental psychology and psychiatry in Britain, viewed insanity as a disorder of both moral and intellectual faculties, advocated for humane treatment of the mentally ill.
Phrenology- science or pseudoscience?
claimed that analysing the shape and contours of an individual’s skull could reveal information about their psychological traits, talents and propensities, by feeling bumps and indentations, phrenologists aimed to construct a psychological profile of individual
theory of phrenology
science of lumps and bumps, the shape of skull reflects the brain’s faculties and the more you use it, the larger it gets, gall’s phrenological ideas were pseudoscientific but helped popularise the brain’s importance in human behaviour
phrenological problems
rejected by mainstream science due to lack of empirical evidence, lack of scientific basis, reliability, validity, ethical considerations
why is science important to the study or crime?
criminology represents a diverse body of knowledge that incorporates a wide variety of approaches, the need for a more sophisticated and technical means of resolving crime, the need to provide a carefully devised technical means to prevent harm from crimes
what does this prove?
that something that has been regarded as ‘factual’ by an authority does not make it scientifically evidence, as criminologists, our role is to critique the evidence presented before us rather than jump to assumptions without critically verifying how results were collated.
