Is Baraminology Pseudoscience?

Defining Pseudoscience

 

Pseudoscience by definition is “a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method” (Oxford Dictionary). When evolutionists use the claim that Baraminology is “pseudoscience” they are referring to their belief that baraminology is based on believer bias and doesn’t follow the scientific method, meaning that they believe we come to a conclusion before examining the evidence. 

What is the Scientific Method?

 

So that we may understand this claim and provide an objection, it is important to go over what science is and what the scientific method is. According to Leonard Brand, “Science can be defined as a search for truth through repeated experimentation and observation” (Faith, Reason, & Earth History, 2nd Edition, Leonard Brand). Science comes from the latin term “scientia” which means knowledge. Therefore, it is clear that science is a way of finding truth through tests and trials. 

 

In order to find the truth, scientists use what is called the scientific method or scientific process as it is sometimes called. The scientific method has been used since the 17th century and is summarized by 6 steps: (1) ask a question, (2) collect data by research, (3) construct a hypothesis, (4) experimentation, (5) analyze the data, (6) draw conclusions (sometimes there is a 7th step considered about communicating your findings). Leonard Brand emphasizes two of these steps when he states, “the scientific process can be understood as having two parts: (1) the collection of data and (2) the interpretation of data.” 

 

When collecting data, scientists commonly collect what is called Objective Data-features that can be weighed, measured, and defined by anyone with the same results. However, the research is incomplete until scientists can make sense of the data through interpretation. “Interpretation involves determining relationships between pieces of data” -Leonard Brand. Collecting data becomes very important as there is never a point in science where we have all the data. An interpretation can be falsified based on the collection of more data. It is impossible to prove things in science, because there may be other factors scientists haven't considered. Yet, if a theory withstands efforts to disprove it, then we can have more confidence that it is correct. The main point I’m making here is that neither evolution, nor creationism, can be proven. Both have different interpretations of the data which means the question then comes down to, what interpretation fits the data better than the other. We will return to which interpretation fits the data better later. For now we will return to the question at hand.

Scientific Method in Baraminology

 

If baraminology is pseudoscience then we should not see the scientific method in baraminologists research. Thus, to show that baraminology is not pseudoscience, I would like to go over baraminologist Todd Woods' work on hominins. The question (1)  of the study was whether Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba were human or if they belonged to another kind. Wood then collected data (2) from other researchers (Line 2010; Menton, Habermehl, and De Witt 2010; O’Micks 2016a; Thomas 2011). His hypothesis (3) was that both Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba were human. Wood then used distance correlation analyses and Baraminic distance to determine whether these creatures belonged to the same kind and whether they are human (4 and 5). Then he came to the conclusion that both creatures were humans (6). Thus, this shows baraminologists can follow the scientific method in their research and don't come to a conclusion before the experiment. 

 

Sources:

 

Sinclair, P.. Todd Wood. “Revising Hominin Baraminology with Medoid Partitioning and Fuzzy Analysis.” Answers Research Journal vol. 14 (2021): 451–462.