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Growth of Pseudoscience Harming Australian Universities
wired_parrot writes "The international credibility of Australia's universities is being undermined by the increase in the 'pseudoscientific' health courses they offer, two academics write in a recent article decrying that a third of Australian universities now offer courses in such subjects as homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine, which undermines science-based medicine. 'As the number of alternative practitioners graduating from tertiary education institutions increases, further health-care resources are wasted, while the potential for harm increases.'"
some chiropractors now extended their manipulation of the spine to children, and claimed that this could cure asthma, allergies, bedwetting, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, colic, fever and numerous other problems, and could serve as a substitute for vaccination.
Evidence? Studies? Clinical trials? Nothing has been presented to support the claim that chiropractors can cure asthma or bedwetting, let alone the really bizarre claims (a substitute for vaccination?).
There is no conspiracy or closed-mindedness. When evidence that herbal medicines do work, scientists embrace them:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_marijuana
You see that long and extensive list of studies? Did you notice that the scientific criticisms were almost entirely focused on smoking as a method of ingestion? Did you notice that the non-scientific criticisms were political, driven by America's far-right government agenda that has been pushed for decades now?
These scientists are objecting to the teaching of treatments that have no evidence to support their use, which have not been the subject of any studies, and for which no statement of efficacy can be made (how do we know these treatments do not cause more harm than good? how do we know that these treatments are not just a waste of time?).
Palm trees and 8
That includes many things that we take advantage of daily -- even before we start on the stuff which is ridiculed by people like you
[citation needed]
Are scientists representatives of God?
No, scientists are just people who back up their claims with evidence, collected and analyzed according to careful procedures. Representatives of deities are the people who demand that we believe their claims regardless of the available evidence, because we are supposed to place value on "faith."
Do they really know EVERYTHING?
Did someone claim that scientists know everything? Scientists conclude their publications with lists of unanswered questions, which is what motivates scientific investigations in the first place. Scientists are not claiming that treatments which have not been investigated do not work -- they are claiming that there is no way to know, until those treatments are investigated.
I think a better question is this: do you think that you know everything? If you do not demand evidence, then how do you determine what is or is not true (or which treatments are or are not effective)?
Palm trees and 8
There are lots of things that work without the benefit of science,
Er, not sure what that means. Things work or not because of the underlying physics of the universe. Science does not make things work or not.
Science explains things. It gives understanding. That may help devise other things that work by using the modelling powers of science.
lots of things that science is not yet able to measure,
Is there something specifically you have in mind?
and lots of things that science does not yet understand. That includes many things that we take advantage of daily --
Sure. Heck, science doesn't even understand gravity really.
even before we start on the stuff which is ridiculed by people like you.
And here we go. There's your leap. What things are these things that are taken advantage of on a daily basis and are ridiculed by the likes of me?
Do you really believe that Science explains everything? No
No scientist would every claim that - we'd be out of a job for a start. You're setting up a straw man.
Then why can't you accept that some real things may exist outside of the bounds of current scientific dogma.
You're angling to leap from "not everything is explained by science" to "my whacky theories of the world are true".
Just because science is not complete doesn't mean (e.g.) homeopathy works.
fundamentalists... fundamentalists... fundamentalists...
Inigo Montoya would like a word with you.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
the problem with your argument is the definition of "better".
I was simplifying for the OP who clearly didn't understand science.
but if you're talking about reducing pain, then it gets complicated.
Yes certainly.
objectively, you can see that a proposed treatment has the same result that a placebo does. does this mean that the treatment is worthless?
Well, ethics aside, placebos aren't worthless treatments. But alternative-medicine placebos aren't any better than regular placebos.
but what do we do in the case of conditions where a "placebo" works very well for a significant fraction of people? shouldn't we fund some research into why the placebo works?
Certainly. The placebo effect is amazing and well worthy of scientific research.
Homeopathy for instance isn't. The science is done and it has been shown to be a simple instance of the placebo effect.
Fun fact: the placebo effect works even if people know they are taking placebos!
SJW n. One who posts facts.
I don't mind the fluff being taught. What I object to is the teaching of outright falsehoods. Teaching homeopathy as medicine is akin to teaching a history course in which France was founded by Kiss after they'd defeated the Samoans by destroying their Deathstar.
Courses must be rigorous to be accredited - not three years spent wankibg for course credits.
-- Using the preview button since 2005