Conceptual foundations for demarcating science and non-science in the contemporary scientific space

Abstract

Although the problem of demarcating science and non-science has a centuries-long history of research and development, it remains controversial and open to interpretation even today. Moreover, not only theoretical issues are important, but also the practical consequences of their demarcation, since they determine the status of individual theories and disciplines, the formation of educational programs, scientific policy, and public trust in knowledge that is defined as expert. The purpose of this article is to look at the object of study from the point of view of philosophy, methodology, sociology, and culture, as well as to identify the main possibilities and limitations of numerous approaches to the distinction between scientific and pseudoscientific knowledge in the context of the modern development of scientific knowledge. The research methods include a historical and philosophical analysis of the evolution of the concept of scientific knowledge, a comparative approach to contrast traditional and contemporary views on demarcation, a logical-analytical approach that helped to distinguish between the concepts of «science» and «pseudoscience», and an interdisciplinary approach that presented the influences of the sociocultural context and digitalization.

The study found that each historical era made significant adjustments to the formulation of what scientific knowledge should be, limiting the scope of discussion exclusively to the philosophical and methodological plan for a long time. In today's world, it has become clear that the problem of demarcating science and non-science is taking on a distinctly social character and can significantly influence the formation of trust in knowledge, information security, and medical and technological practices in the digital environment. After all, the intensive development of IT, digital media, and global communications has made science open and accessible, and along with it, various forms of non-scientific, quasi-scientific, and pseudoscientific doctrines have found their way into the open information space. Along with this, the cultural conditioning of demarcation, marked by the influence of local traditions, worldview norms, and algorithmic systems, has also become apparent. In this context, scientific knowledge has become politically, economically, and culturally determined. The conclusions showed that the demarcation of science should be carried out in the context of a contextual and practice-oriented approach to significantly strengthen information security and increase trust in science.