DAUBERT V.

MERREL DOW

FARMACEUTICAL INC

This is the product of Daubert v. Merrel Dow

Farmaceutical Inc. trial verdict, which delineated

the criteria for the scientific reliability of the tests

and therefore, practically, for the degree of

separation.

One of the central Enlightenment thinkers, Kant

can be defined as a precursor to the the

demarcation problem, with his criticism.

In the course of history, conjectures initially

considered scientific and accepted by all, were

consequently enclosed in the realm of pseudo-

sciences (e.g. astrology, alchemy, phrenology and

physiognomy).

Pseudoscientific disciplines claim to be based on

presumably real and proven facts and events, even

if occasionally those are based only on the

sensations, impressions and desires of the

"researchers" who deal with them.

Pseudosciences are defined as "pseudo", not for

what they research about, but for the way in

which they research it; for the lack of adherence

to reproducibility and intersubjective verifiability,

typical of science.

For instance, parapsychology has always offered

honest research, prepared and determined to apply

the scientific method to their chosen field of

research. However, in the field of pseudosciences

when a rig- orous scientific method is applied, as

in the case of such researchers, significant results

are never obtained.

The contrasting relationship between science and

faith has greatly contributed to the debate on the

boundaries between what is science and what is

not. A symbol is evolution, proposed by Charles

Darwin (The origin of species, 1859). This theory

was opposed to the Church's idea of creationism;

and it is still somewhat present.