‘not even wrong!’

‘not even wrong!’

Where did the phrase come from and what does it mean?

Presented by Graeme Hanigan‘Scientician’

Where did the phrase come from and what does it mean?

Presented by Graeme Hanigan‘Scientician’

Not only ‘Scientician’Not only ‘Scientician’

“An authoritative individual of questionable medical, scientific and/or scholastic merit.”

but also but also

Its been the title of a number of books…

Its been the title of a number of books…

Your can even get it on a T shirt

Your can even get it on a T shirt

Where did it come from?Where did it come from?

The phrase ‘not even wrong’ is attributed to Wolfgang Ernst Pauli.

The Austrian theoretical physicist and pioneer of Quantum Physics.

The phrase ‘not even wrong’ is attributed to Wolfgang Ernst Pauli.

The Austrian theoretical physicist and pioneer of Quantum Physics.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’Pauli was a perfectionist. An approach which he applied not just to his own work, but also to the work of his colleagues and he became known as the "conscience of physics”.

Pauli was a perfectionist. An approach which he applied not just to his own work, but also to the work of his colleagues and he became known as the "conscience of physics”.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’He could be scathing in his dismissal of any theory he found lacking, labeling it

‘utterly wrong’

He could be scathing in his dismissal of any theory he found lacking, labeling it

‘utterly wrong’

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’ However his most severe

criticism he reserved for theories so inadequately presented as to be un-testable or un-falsifiable and so not belonging within the realm of science.

However his most severe criticism he reserved for theories so inadequately presented as to be un-testable or un-falsifiable and so not belonging within the realm of science.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’He described such theories by saying;

"Not only is it not right,

it's not even wrong!"

He described such theories by saying;

"Not only is it not right,

it's not even wrong!"

What does it mean?What does it mean? The Philosopher Karl Popper

provided us with an epistemology (a method of differentiating between what is sense and what is nonsense). An argument can be considered to be valid, if it can be falsified.

If an argument is falsifiable does not mean it is false.

It means an argument that is false, can be shown to be false by observation or experiment.

The Philosopher Karl Popper provided us with an epistemology (a method of differentiating between what is sense and what is nonsense). An argument can be considered to be valid, if it can be falsified.

If an argument is falsifiable does not mean it is false.

It means an argument that is false, can be shown to be false by observation or experiment.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’• Science is a way of self correcting

discovery, because it is constantly under review.

• For example our current understanding of aerodynamics is the result of over 500 years of scientific discovery.

• Science is a way of self correcting discovery, because it is constantly under review.

• For example our current understanding of aerodynamics is the result of over 500 years of scientific discovery.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote his treatise ‘A Codex on the Flight of Birds’ in

1505.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote his treatise ‘A Codex on the Flight of Birds’ in

1505.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’ Meanwhile mumbo jumbo, hokus pocus,

gobbledygook, woo woo, gibberish, nonsense on stilts, rubbish, drivel, Jibber-Jabber, hogwash, claptrap, waffle, jargon, twaddle and flim flam* tend to be stagnant and incapable of change, because they are un-falsifiable.

(*There is so much of it, our language is equally full of terms to describe it.)

Meanwhile mumbo jumbo, hokus pocus, gobbledygook, woo woo, gibberish, nonsense on stilts, rubbish, drivel, Jibber-Jabber, hogwash, claptrap, waffle, jargon, twaddle and flim flam* tend to be stagnant and incapable of change, because they are un-falsifiable.

(*There is so much of it, our language is equally full of terms to describe it.)

Lets look at a few examples of popular pseudo- science that are ‘not even wrong!’

Lets look at a few examples of popular pseudo- science that are ‘not even wrong!’

DowsingDowsing

“The corpuscles ... that rise from the Minerals, entering the rod, determine it to bow down, in order to render it parallel to the vertical lines which the effluvia describe in their rise.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing

“A weaker dynamic affection is permanently extinguished in the living organism by a stronger one, if the latter (whilst differing in kind) is very similar to the former in its manifestation.-“ (Organon of Medicine, Samuel Hahnemann)

“A weaker dynamic affection is permanently extinguished in the living organism by a stronger one, if the latter (whilst differing in kind) is very similar to the former in its manifestation.-“ (Organon of Medicine, Samuel Hahnemann)

HomoeopathyHomoeopathy

Vibrational healingVibrational healing

“Some blood on a bit of filter paper is attached to a device called a dynamizer, which is attached by wires to a string of other devices and then to the forehead of a healthy volunteer, facing west in a dim light.” http://radionics.askdefine.com/

“Some blood on a bit of filter paper is attached to a device called a dynamizer, which is attached by wires to a string of other devices and then to the forehead of a healthy volunteer, facing west in a dim light.” http://radionics.askdefine.com/

emWave2emWave2 “Correlates of psychophysiological coherence include a sine wave-

like pattern in the heart rhythms, increased heart-brain synchronization (alpha rhythms become more synchronized to the heart) and entrainment between heart rhythm patterns, respiration, blood pressure rhythms and other physiological systems.” http://www.heartmathstore.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=science

“Correlates of psychophysiological coherence include a sine wave-like pattern in the heart rhythms, increased heart-brain synchronization (alpha rhythms become more synchronized to the heart) and entrainment between heart rhythm patterns, respiration, blood pressure rhythms and other physiological systems.” http://www.heartmathstore.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=science

emWave Personal Stress Reliever Disclaimer

emWave Personal Stress Reliever Disclaimer

“This is not considered a medical device. It has been found to be very safe and helpful when used as intended for educational and entertainment purposes.”

http://www.heartmathstore.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=legal

“This is not considered a medical device. It has been found to be very safe and helpful when used as intended for educational and entertainment purposes.”

http://www.heartmathstore.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=legal

Power Balance BandsPower Balance Bands

“Subtle frequencies (bio data) are programmed into holographic media. These frequencies resonate with the body's red blood cells believed to amplify and increases the efficiency of electronic, chemical, and organic systems.”

http://www.soccervillage.com/productdetails.aspx?ProdID=7376

“Subtle frequencies (bio data) are programmed into holographic media. These frequencies resonate with the body's red blood cells believed to amplify and increases the efficiency of electronic, chemical, and organic systems.”

http://www.soccervillage.com/productdetails.aspx?ProdID=7376

Digital-Retro-Turbo-Encabulator

Digital-Retro-Turbo-Encabulator

By Combining the best features of the older Encabulators and using modern MOMS6 Silicon-Galladium-Barsite (SGB) technology the inverse reactive current is supplied in a much more precise manner.  The use of a micro controller provides much improved regulation of the cardinal grammeter's synchronization and results in the status LED blinking in a very regular manner, thus confirming that the current is reacting properly.http://www.prc68.com/I/DRTE.shtml

By Combining the best features of the older Encabulators and using modern MOMS6 Silicon-Galladium-Barsite (SGB) technology the inverse reactive current is supplied in a much more precise manner.  The use of a micro controller provides much improved regulation of the cardinal grammeter's synchronization and results in the status LED blinking in a very regular manner, thus confirming that the current is reacting properly.http://www.prc68.com/I/DRTE.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag&feature=related

scientician

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’

There is enough material for me to go on and on and on all night.

There is enough material for me to go on and on and on all night.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’ You will notice the common hallmark of

each of these marvelous pieces of pseudo-science, is that they don’t actually explain anything. It is language that conveys no valid meaning

However they do raise more questions.

You will notice the common hallmark of each of these marvelous pieces of pseudo-science, is that they don’t actually explain anything. It is language that conveys no valid meaning

However they do raise more questions.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’ How do the corpuscles rising from the

effluvia pull the dowsing rod? What energy is being used?

What is a dynamiser? How does it work? By what process do alpha rhythms

become more synchronized to the heart? How is do we know that a weaker

dynamic affection is permanently extinguished?

How are Subtle frequencies (bio data) programmed into holographic media.

How do the corpuscles rising from the effluvia pull the dowsing rod? What energy is being used?

What is a dynamiser? How does it work? By what process do alpha rhythms

become more synchronized to the heart? How is do we know that a weaker

dynamic affection is permanently extinguished?

How are Subtle frequencies (bio data) programmed into holographic media.

‘not even wrong!’‘not even wrong!’ These claims are not based on our understanding of

the natural world, nor do they add to our understanding of the natural world.

What is more likely, that there exists an alternate dimension where the natural laws, as we know them, don’t apply or that someone just made stuff up?

These claims are not based on our understanding of the natural world, nor do they add to our understanding of the natural world.

What is more likely, that there exists an alternate dimension where the natural laws, as we know them, don’t apply or that someone just made stuff up?

How to recognize claims that are‘not even wrong’

How to recognize claims that are‘not even wrong’

• Use Carl Sagans ‘Baloney Detection Kit’ available in his book;

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,

Chapter 12

or freely available here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=eUB4j0n2UDU

• Use Carl Sagans ‘Baloney Detection Kit’ available in his book;

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,

Chapter 12

or freely available here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=eUB4j0n2UDU

‘Baloney Detection Kit’‘Baloney Detection Kit’

Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts

Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view.

Arguments from authority carry little weight (in science there are no "authorities").

Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts

Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view.

Arguments from authority carry little weight (in science there are no "authorities").

‘Baloney Detection Kit’‘Baloney Detection Kit’

Spin more than one hypothesis - don't simply run with the first idea that caught your fancy.

Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis, just because it's yours.

Quantify, wherever possible.

Spin more than one hypothesis - don't simply run with the first idea that caught your fancy.

Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis, just because it's yours.

Quantify, wherever possible.

‘Baloney Detection Kit’‘Baloney Detection Kit’

If there is a chain of argument, every link in the chain must work.

"Occam's razor" - if there are more than one hypothesis that explain the data, choose the simpler.

Ask whether the hypothesis can, at least in principle, be falsified?

If there is a chain of argument, every link in the chain must work.

"Occam's razor" - if there are more than one hypothesis that explain the data, choose the simpler.

Ask whether the hypothesis can, at least in principle, be falsified?

Legal DisclaimerLegal Disclaimer Graeme Hanigan is a Scientician.

He makes no claims of medical, scientific and/or scholastic merit and encourages you to check his references and to ask questions.

This presentation has been found to be very safe and helpful when used as

intended for educational and entertainment purposes

Thank You Remember to be Skeptical!

Graeme Hanigan is a Scientician. He makes no claims of medical, scientific

and/or scholastic merit and encourages you to check his references and to ask questions.

This presentation has been found to be very safe and helpful when used as

intended for educational and entertainment purposes

Thank You Remember to be Skeptical!