Fringe theory
Encyclopedia
A fringe theory is an idea or a collection of ideas that departs significantly from the prevailing or mainstream
view in its particular field of study. Examples include ideas that purport to be scientific theories
but have little or no scientific support, conspiracy theories, unproven esoteric claims about medicine
, pseudohistory
and so forth. Some fringe theories may in a stricter sense be hypotheses
, conjecture
s, or speculation
s.
Thus fringe theories are not broadly accepted by the prevailing orthodox scholarship in the field. They tend to involve original ideas, the validity of which is still uncertain. Consequently they may be controversial and even contentious. They may also represent the possible future breakthroughs, or they could fade into obscurity.
Status of a theory can change. For example, continental drift
has moved from being a contested, fringe theory in geology
, to becoming very widely accepted as plate tectonics
within the scientific community
.
There is a spectrum from pseudoscientific to fringe theories to protoscience to alternative theoretical formulations to orthodox science. However, the demarcations between these are not always clear.
The demarcations are often difficult to place, especially when there are several conceptual theories or candidate solutions that are competing for acceptance. Very often these theories are incomplete working models, so it can be difficult to test them. Thus the validity of these can be uncertain: they cannot be proven or disproven. Acceptance of such theories is a matter of personal belief, hence contention. Examples of physics theories that meet the definition of fringe, are of uncertain validity, yet are taken seriously by many in their fields are: Grand unification theory
s, Theory of everything
, and M-theory
.
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
view in its particular field of study. Examples include ideas that purport to be scientific theories
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
but have little or no scientific support, conspiracy theories, unproven esoteric claims about medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
, pseudohistory
Pseudohistory
Pseudohistory is a pejorative term applied to a type of historical revisionism, often involving sensational claims whose acceptance would require rewriting a significant amount of commonly accepted history, and based on methods that depart from standard historiographical conventions.Cryptohistory...
and so forth. Some fringe theories may in a stricter sense be hypotheses
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. The term derives from the Greek, ὑποτιθέναι – hypotithenai meaning "to put under" or "to suppose". For a hypothesis to be put forward as a scientific hypothesis, the scientific method requires that one can test it...
, conjecture
Conjecture
A conjecture is a proposition that is unproven but is thought to be true and has not been disproven. Karl Popper pioneered the use of the term "conjecture" in scientific philosophy. Conjecture is contrasted by hypothesis , which is a testable statement based on accepted grounds...
s, or speculation
Speculation
In finance, speculation is a financial action that does not promise safety of the initial investment along with the return on the principal sum...
s.
Thus fringe theories are not broadly accepted by the prevailing orthodox scholarship in the field. They tend to involve original ideas, the validity of which is still uncertain. Consequently they may be controversial and even contentious. They may also represent the possible future breakthroughs, or they could fade into obscurity.
Status of a theory can change. For example, continental drift
Continental drift
Continental drift is the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other. The hypothesis that continents 'drift' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and was fully developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912...
has moved from being a contested, fringe theory in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, to becoming very widely accepted as plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
within the scientific community
Scientific community
The scientific community consists of the total body of scientists, its relationships and interactions. It is normally divided into "sub-communities" each working on a particular field within science. Objectivity is expected to be achieved by the scientific method...
.
There is a spectrum from pseudoscientific to fringe theories to protoscience to alternative theoretical formulations to orthodox science. However, the demarcations between these are not always clear.
| System System System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole.... atized as scientific definition | ||||
| Treated with scientific method Scientific method Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of... | ||||
| Tries to be science or just looks like science | ||||
Superstition Superstition Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events.... s | Pseudoscience Pseudoscience Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status... | Fringe science Fringe science Fringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline.... | Protoscience | （Mainstream Mainstream Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct.... ）science Science Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe... |
The demarcations are often difficult to place, especially when there are several conceptual theories or candidate solutions that are competing for acceptance. Very often these theories are incomplete working models, so it can be difficult to test them. Thus the validity of these can be uncertain: they cannot be proven or disproven. Acceptance of such theories is a matter of personal belief, hence contention. Examples of physics theories that meet the definition of fringe, are of uncertain validity, yet are taken seriously by many in their fields are: Grand unification theory
Grand unification theory
The term Grand Unified Theory, often abbreviated as GUT, refers to any of several similar candidate models in particle physics in which at high-energy, the three gauge interactions of the Standard Model which define the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions, are merged into one single...
s, Theory of everything
Theory of everything
A theory of everything is a putative theory of theoretical physics that fully explains and links together all known physical phenomena, and predicts the outcome of any experiment that could be carried out in principle....
, and M-theory
M-theory
In theoretical physics, M-theory is an extension of string theory in which 11 dimensions are identified. Because the dimensionality exceeds that of superstring theories in 10 dimensions, proponents believe that the 11-dimensional theory unites all five string theories...
.
See also
- Conspiracy theoryConspiracy theoryA conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
- Fringe (disambiguation)
- Fringe scienceFringe scienceFringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline....
- ProtoscienceProtoscienceIn the philosophy of science, a protoscience is an area of scientific endeavor that is in the process of becoming established. Protoscience is distinguished from pseudoscience by its standard practices of good science, such as a willingness to be disproven by new evidence, or to be replaced by a...
- PseudohistoryPseudohistoryPseudohistory is a pejorative term applied to a type of historical revisionism, often involving sensational claims whose acceptance would require rewriting a significant amount of commonly accepted history, and based on methods that depart from standard historiographical conventions.Cryptohistory...
- PseudosciencePseudosciencePseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...