Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How "woo" graduates to "not woo". [View all]jeff47
(26,549 posts)16. We don't have to understand the method of action to say it works.
If something works, it works whether or not you've subjected it to rigorous peer reviewed methodologies. Heck, my drug guide is chock full of medicines we use that still don't have a known 'method of action'.
We don't have to understand the method of action to say it works. The "rigorous peer reviewed methodologies" you describe do not find the method of action. They find whether or not a particular compound or set of compounds really does anything.
Once we know the compound(s) do something, then it's medicine. Finding a method of action might reveal a better medicine, or help us learn more about how our bodies work. But method of action is not required to call it medicine.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
92 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
No really it is only "eurocentric' if one thinks that the scientific method is simply a cultural
Warren Stupidity
Apr 2014
#3
I won't nit pick. I was using the term generically in the way it is being used in DU's "woo-war".
Warren Stupidity
Apr 2014
#18
Yes indeed. Which is why the scientific methods used for evaluation are not static.
Warren Stupidity
Apr 2014
#20
which is why alternative medicine should embrace testing not run away from it.
Warren Stupidity
Apr 2014
#19
If there is an aversion to testing I think it's more about regulating and control than fear
cui bono
Apr 2014
#54
Indeed. It seems that if a claim is old and non-European, it's automatically valid and true.
arcane1
Apr 2014
#32
While Mourning Dove's quote is nice feel good stuff, its also BS I'm afraid...
Humanist_Activist
Apr 2014
#47
Woo: chiropractic, homeopathy, reiki, healing crystals, antivaccine nuttery.
Spider Jerusalem
Apr 2014
#23
Chiropractic claims that illness is caused by pockets of negative energy...
Spider Jerusalem
Apr 2014
#68
Just because there is some observable placebo effect doesn't mean it's not woo.
Spider Jerusalem
Apr 2014
#83
I was thinking mostly about medication for depression. Quite a bit of evidence there.
A Simple Game
Apr 2014
#41
Here's the deal. I have problems with the arrogance of those who present 'science' as a
Bluenorthwest
Apr 2014
#53
You bring up discredited science, that is all you are doing, people are flawed and biased...
Humanist_Activist
Apr 2014
#57
Yes. What do we call 'alternative medicine' that's been proven to work? Medicine.
Electric Monk
Apr 2014
#59
So how do you know which traditional remedies are bullshit and which arent?
Warren Stupidity
Apr 2014
#76
no shit. But the role for anecdotal experience is to identify what to test.
Warren Stupidity
Apr 2014
#90