The Six Characteristics of Science--CONPTT
How does the world/universe work?
This is the question that we try to solve in science. If we seriously want to figure out how stuff works, we have to be able to decide if what we are doing is scientific or not. All scientists throughout the world use the following guidelines to make sure that their investigations are based on good, strong science that gives results, which cannot be refuted.
So, to be truly scientific, your investigations must have the following characteristics:
Consistency-
Several scientists (students) can repeat an experiment and the results are the same.
Observability-
The results or subject of an experiment can be observed by using the five senses or extensions of them. (see, touch, hear, smell, taste)
Natural-
A natural cause must be used to explain why or how the naturally occurring result or experimental subject happens. Supernatural can’t be used.
Predictability-
Predictions can be made about the subject and can be tested.
Testability-
Subject can be tested using a controlled experiment.
Tentativeness-
Scientific theories are subject to change because of technology.
Science - has all six characteristics.
Pseudoscience - has five, four, or three of the characteristics.
Nonscience - has two, one, or none of the characteristics
This is the question that we try to solve in science. If we seriously want to figure out how stuff works, we have to be able to decide if what we are doing is scientific or not. All scientists throughout the world use the following guidelines to make sure that their investigations are based on good, strong science that gives results, which cannot be refuted.
So, to be truly scientific, your investigations must have the following characteristics:
Consistency-
Several scientists (students) can repeat an experiment and the results are the same.
Observability-
The results or subject of an experiment can be observed by using the five senses or extensions of them. (see, touch, hear, smell, taste)
Natural-
A natural cause must be used to explain why or how the naturally occurring result or experimental subject happens. Supernatural can’t be used.
Predictability-
Predictions can be made about the subject and can be tested.
Testability-
Subject can be tested using a controlled experiment.
Tentativeness-
Scientific theories are subject to change because of technology.
Science - has all six characteristics.
Pseudoscience - has five, four, or three of the characteristics.
Nonscience - has two, one, or none of the characteristics
On the basis on CONPTT criteria, astrology has some scientific merit, because it is often predictable (for example, we can PREDICT when the sun rises and sets, so astrally is a PREDICTABLE field (one of the 6 CONPTT criteria)), but falls short of being considered Science because astrology, particularly in the outer space, can not be manipulated, tested or changed by Science at this point in time. In other words, astrology is not a fully Scientific study because we have virtually no control over the way matter in space and other inexplicable matter behaves (astrology is NOT TESTABLE, which is another one of the 6 CONPTT criteria). Thus, at this point in time, astrology can merely be labeled as protoscience, thanks to some advances in technology which have turned astrology, a study full of mere speculation, into astronomy, a concentrated, serious study of space. That said, astrology is not the pseudoscience of the past, but can not yet be considered scientific because science still is unable to explain some facets of astronomy.