Wikipedia:WikiProject Pseudoscience
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NOTE: This is a work in progress. Discussions about changes are welcome on the talk page.
[edit] Introduction
This WikiProject is intended as a tool for presenting pseudoscience articles in a manner that is consistent with Wikipedia's Neutral Point of View rules, and for aiding in flagging articles that aren't Encyclopedic for removal.
If you are interested in commenting on or contributing to this WikiProject, please leave a message on the project talk page.
[edit] Scope
This WikiProject is concerned with the management of articles about specific pseudoscientific theories.
[edit] Definition
A pseudoscience theory is a claimed description of physical laws which "purports to be scientific or supported by science but which is judged to fall outside the domain of science" (from pseudoscience).
Example:
- A publication in a peer-reviewed physics journal claiming that the existence of five quark families provides a more accurate description of particle accelerator observations than the usual three, is probably not pseudoscience. It doesn't match accepted mainstream models, but it has passed fairly stringent tests verifying its use of scientific method, and so would be better described as fringe science.
Example:
- A web page claiming that quarks don't exist, and claiming that belief in them is due to the fact that "quantum mechanics theories are wrong", and citing either other web pages or an article published in an "Essays" compilation, is probably pseudoscience. It flagrantly contradicts mainstream models, and presents no evidence that its claims were derived through use of the scientific method.
[edit] Goals
The following ongoing tasks are goals of this WikiProject:
- Assist removal of articles about pseudoscience theories that are original research.
- Assist removal of articles about pseudoscience theories that are not important (i.e., that are only of interest to a very tiny group).
- Help to ensure that pseudoscience articles that are kept are encyclopedic.
- Help to ensure that pseudoscience articles that are kept are written in a neutral viewpoint, as defined by the Wikipedia policies and conventions on neutral point of view.
See Decision criteria below for a more detailed discussion.
[edit] Tools
The following tools are provided to aid in achieving this WikiProject's goals:
- A list of Decision criteria constituting an informal guideline for assessing importance, encyclopedic status, and neutrality of viewpoint.
- A set of Templates intended to aid the editing of pseudoscience articles.
- A Sample article intended to demonstrate the desired style of pseudoscience articles.
- A list of Useful links to other tools and articles useful for tracking and management of pseudoscience articles.
- A shared watchlist of articles which are known or can be expected to attract pseudoscience POV pushing edits.
[edit] What this WikiProject is not
- This WikiProject is not Wikipedia policy.
- While every attempt has been made to make the guidelines in this WikiProject consistent with Wikipedia policy, check the relevant policies and guidelines directly when in doubt. Several relevant policies are listed in the wikipedia policies subsection. Others can be found through Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines.
- This WikiProject is not a replacement for Pages needing attention/Physics.
- List pages that need modifying there. Note your changes there. It is important for Wikipedia to function as a community, which means that editing should be vetted by the community. Posting to PNA/Physics brings your edits to others' attention.
- This WikiProject is not a shortcut for due process.
- If you think an article needs editing, be bold, but pay attention to discussion on the article's talk page, and note your edits on PNA/Physics.
- If you think an article should be deleted, follow due process and start a vote for deletion after appropriate discussion on the article's talk page and PNA/Physics. Only vote to delete articles that you have read thoroughly and for which you believe Wikipedia's deletion policy applies.
[edit] Participants
- Christopher Thomas
- Count Iblis
- Pjacobi
- Salsb
- William M. Connolley
- Laura Scudder
- Linas
- CSTAR
- Dave Kielpinski
- Michael C Price
- ObsidianOrder
- Bubba73
- Fyslee
- Jredwards
- GangofOne even though I am not much of a joiner
- porges
- Ragesoss (Although, as an historian of science, I in no way endorse the term pseudoscience.)
- User:ScienceApologist
- Harald88
- Badbilltucker
- headlouse
- Levine2112
- Bduke
- User:Jim Butler (principles 14-18 in recent ArbCom decision make for good reading)
- Cool Hand Luke
[edit] Decision criteria
Note: This is temporary content.
- For a pseudoscientific theory to be encyclopedic, peer-reviewed papers in reputable journals have to be published about it.
- Notes on the distinction between "journal of X", and "essays", "letters", "transactions", and arxiv.
- For a pseudoscientific theory to be important, it has to have the paper trail to be encyclopedic, and have other scientists publish in response, or cite its articles.
- For NPOV compliance, there are several guidelines that must be respected:
- All descriptions in proper scientific language, with all jargon terms used correctly.
- No gushing about how wonderful the pseudoscientific theory is. That will be obvious without the gushing if it's true.
- Clearly and prominently note points of disagreement between the pseudoscientific theory and mainstream science.
- Cite sources, and clearly acknowledge mainstream reputability or disreputability of sources cited.
[edit] Templates
[edit] Blank "disputed science" article
- Template for the article skeleton goes here.
[edit] "Disputed science" infobox
Disputed Science: {{{name}}} |
|
---|---|
Disciplines: | {{{topics}}} |
Core Tenets: | |
{{{claims}}} | |
Year Proposed: | {{{origyear}}} |
Original Proponents: |
{{{origprop}}} |
Current Proponents: |
{{{currentprop}}} |
An infobox template has been created in an attempt to provide a standardized way for information about a pseudoscientific article to be summarized. This is the {{Infobox Pseudoscience}} template, shown at the right. To use it, insert text along the lines of the following:
{{Infobox Pseudoscience |name=Martian Origin of Navel Lint |topics= * [[Biology]] ... }}
Guidelines for the fields are as follows:
- name: Short but reasonably complete name of the observation, belief, or theory. Might or might not be the same as the article name.
- disciplines: List of disciplines the theory would be considered a part of if correct. Wikipedia lists are ok if started on a new line.
- claims: Extremely brief listing of both the core tenets of the theory, and how they differ from the tenets of mainstream physics. Save details for the article itself.
- origyear: Year the theory was originally written about or otherwise verifiably proclaimed in a public forum. Make the year a link.
- origprop: List of original notable proponents of the theory. These should only be links if the originators in question are notable enough to have their own articles on Wikipedia.
- currentprop: List of currently-active notable proponents of the theory. These should only be links if the proponents in question are notable enough to have their own articles on Wikipedia.
[edit] Headers for flagging well-known pseudoscience topics
- {{perp}} Perpetual motion machines and other "over-unity" devices:
This article describes a perpetual motion machine, which violates the known laws of physics. Claims of the development of such devices are considered pseudoscience by most scientists.
- Antigravitation, Levitation
This article describes Antigravitation, which violates the known laws of physics. Claims of the development of such devices are considered pseudoscience by most scientists.
This article describes Faster-than-light transport of information, which violates the known laws of physics. Claims of the development of such devices are considered pseudoscience by most scientists.
This article describes Cold fusion, which violates the known laws of physics. Claims of the development of such devices are considered pseudoscience by most scientists.
This article describes a kind of free energy that violates the known Laws of thermodynamics. Claims of the development of such devices are considered pseudoscience by most scientists.
This article lacks in logic and violates the rules of Boolean algebra.
Claims including such arguments are considered pseudoscience by most scientists.
- Numerology (math)
- Quackery (medicine)
- Creationism (biology)
- Parapsychology, Psychokinesis, Telepathy
- Spirituality, Divination, Astrology
[edit] Future tools
Things that might be handy to develop go here. These should be discussed on the talk page before being created.
- Possibly some kind of aid for point/counterpoint listings of theory vs. mainstream claims.
[edit] Sample article
A sample of the desired article format is presented at Wikipedia:WikiProject Pseudoscience/Green Cheese Model of Lunar Composition.
[edit] Subpages
[edit] Useful links
The following articles and web pages are useful for tracking and managing pseudoscience.
[edit] Articles
[edit] Related WikiProjects
[edit] Wikipedia policies and guidelines
- Wikipedia:Neutral point of view
- Wikipedia:No original research
- Wikipedia:Importance
- Wikipedia:Notability
- Wikipedia:Cite sources
- Wikipedia:Civility
- Wikipedia:Deletion policy
- Wikipedia:Dispute resolution
[edit] Arbitration Committee decisions
[edit] Lists that may contain articles needing attention
- Wikipedia:Pages needing attention/Physics
- Wikipedia:Pages needing attention/Pseudoscience
- Category:Physics stubs
- Category:Pseudoscience
- Category:Pseudophysics
- Category:Protoscience (some unlabelled pseudoscience material present)
- Category:Fringe physics (some unlabelled pseudoscience material present)
- Wikipedia:WikiProject Physics/List of alternative, speculative and disputed theories
- List of alternative, speculative and disputed theories