Question

According to the passage, which of the following statements best describes the difference between science and pseudo-science?

(2006)

• A. Scientific theories or hypothesis are tentatively true whereas pseudo-sciences are always true.
• B. Scientific laws and theories are permanent and immutable whereas pseudo-sciences are contingent on the prevalent mode of thinking in a society.
• C. Science always allows the possibility of rejecting a theory or hypothesis, whereas pseudo-sciences seek to validate their ideas or theories.
• D. Science focuses on anomalies and exceptions so that fundamental truths can be uncovered, whereas pseudo-sciences focus mainly on general truths.
• E. Science progresses by collection of observations or by experimentation, whereas pseudo-sciences do not worry about observations and experiments.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Science always allows the possibility of rejecting a theory or hypothesis, whereas pseudo-sciences seek to validate their ideas or theories.

Option: (c)

In the third paragraph of the passage, the author clearly mentions that "dogmatic attitude is related to the tendency to verify our laws and schemata by seeking to apply them and confirm them, whereas "critical attitude is one of readiness to change them, to refute them. Further, in the paragraph critical attitude has been called scientific and dogmatic attitude has been called pseudo-scientific. Thus it is evident that the real difference between scientific and pseudo-scientific as mentioned by the author is best stated by option (c).