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Volume 7: Number 1: Article 2
Mainstream Sciences vs. Parasciences: Toward an Old Dualism?
Gerald L. Eberlein, Sociology Dept., Technical University, Munich,
Germany
The Observatory for New Spiritual Movements has been operating at the
Technical University of Munich since 1980. It is concerned with the
study of cults, New Age ideologies and with the parasciences from anthroposophy
to cryptozoology. The parasciences are being analyzed by the science
of sciences, i.e., by the philosophy of science, psychology and sociology
of science, as well as by the history of science.
The following ten hypotheses, characteristics and questions are discussed:
- Mainstream sciences may make neither monopolistic nor absolutistic claims.
- The six main criteria of the academic sciences are compared to the
six main criteria of the parasciences.
- The two types of science also differ in their value orientations.
- Social processes and structures are characteristics of both.
- What are the characteristic motivations of parascientists?
- What is the historical background of the mainstream sciences?
- What are the difference between the metaparadigms of mainstream
science and those of the parasciences?
- What are the social functions of mainstream sciences and parasciences?
- Do the functions of the parasciences transcend those of mainstream
science?
- What are the characteristic differences between of mainstream science
and the parasciences?
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