Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning
Encyclopedia
Vetenskap och Folkbildning (Sw. ”Science and Popular Enlightenment”) or The Swedish Skeptics' Association, abbreviated as VoF, is a Swedish skeptics'
association. It was founded in 1982 with the purpose to raise the general public's awareness of scientific methods and results. The association publishes the quarterly journal Folkvett and organises lectures on themes related to science
and pseudoscience
. Since 1987 the association has annually awarded prizes for "Educator of the Year" and "Deceiver of the Year".
. Three other prominent members are professor of philosophy Sven Ove Hansson
(chairman 1982-88), professor of molecular cell biology Dan Larhammar (chairman 1998-2004) and ESA astronaut
Christer Fuglesang
.
VoF is a part of an international network of skeptics' associations such as the American Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and Indian CSICOP
. Founded six years prior to VoF, CSI served as a model for the Swedish organisation. But while CSI focuses on paranormal phenomena, VoF holds a more general science-friendly outlook. Spokespeople have sometimes wished to avoid the term "skeptics" altogether as it may incorrectly suggest that the association may favour some unusual view on science.
In academia the association enjoys quite a high degree of appreciation. Several Swedish universities offer courses utilising publications by its members. Many members are scientists and teachers.
Some criticism has however also been voiced by academics. Philosopher Martin Gustafsson at the University of Stockholm claims that VoF exaggerates the threats against rationality and science, and that its representatives erroneously depict themselves as underdogs in a war on widespread superstition. He has also claimed that the Enlightenment's ideal of free thought clashes with the respect for scientific authority that VoF espouses. Per-Anders Forstorp at the Royal Institute of Technology
in Stockholm
, suggests that VoF represents positivism
and institutionalised intolerance.
Sven Ove Hansson has commented on this kind of criticism:
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
association. It was founded in 1982 with the purpose to raise the general public's awareness of scientific methods and results. The association publishes the quarterly journal Folkvett and organises lectures on themes related to science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and 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...
. Since 1987 the association has annually awarded prizes for "Educator of the Year" and "Deceiver of the Year".
Activities
In 2008 the association had a membership above 2300. The current chairman is professor of physics Hanno EssénHanno Essén
Hanno Essén, born September 27, 1948, is an associate professor of theoretical physics and a lecturer at the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology and former chairman of the Swedish Skeptics Society....
. Three other prominent members are professor of philosophy Sven Ove Hansson
Sven Ove Hansson
Sven Ove Hansson is a professor of philosophy and chair of the Department of Philosophy and History of Technology at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden...
(chairman 1982-88), professor of molecular cell biology Dan Larhammar (chairman 1998-2004) and ESA astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
Christer Fuglesang
Christer Fuglesang
Dr. Arne Christer Fuglesang is a Swedish physicist and an ESA astronaut. He was first launched aboard the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission on December 10, 2006, at 01:47 GMT, making him the first Swedish citizen in space....
.
VoF is a part of an international network of skeptics' associations such as the American Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and Indian CSICOP
Indian CSICOP
Indian CSICOP is a well-known rationalist group based at Podanur, Tamil Nadu, India. Founded by Basava Premanand Indian CSICOP is in the forefront of the rationalist campaigns in India which attempt to expose perceived miracles and to eradicate superstitions.Indian CSICOP is an affiliate of the US...
. Founded six years prior to VoF, CSI served as a model for the Swedish organisation. But while CSI focuses on paranormal phenomena, VoF holds a more general science-friendly outlook. Spokespeople have sometimes wished to avoid the term "skeptics" altogether as it may incorrectly suggest that the association may favour some unusual view on science.
Criticism
People whose activities has been labeled “pseudoscience” and “deceptions” by VoF and skeptics in general, have been critical of the organisation. A more general critique suggests that VoF actually engages in pseudoskepticism.In academia the association enjoys quite a high degree of appreciation. Several Swedish universities offer courses utilising publications by its members. Many members are scientists and teachers.
Some criticism has however also been voiced by academics. Philosopher Martin Gustafsson at the University of Stockholm claims that VoF exaggerates the threats against rationality and science, and that its representatives erroneously depict themselves as underdogs in a war on widespread superstition. He has also claimed that the Enlightenment's ideal of free thought clashes with the respect for scientific authority that VoF espouses. Per-Anders Forstorp at the Royal Institute of Technology
Royal Institute of Technology
The Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden. KTH was founded in 1827 as Sweden's first polytechnic and is one of Scandinavia's largest institutions of higher education in technology. KTH accounts for one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, suggests that VoF represents positivism
Positivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
and institutionalised intolerance.
Sven Ove Hansson has commented on this kind of criticism:
”The way I see it, VoF and the general skeptical movement is not characterised by any particular view of science. … Just like members of Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
can have different ideas about the limits of free speech, there is room in VoF for divergent opinions in questions about science and the philosophy of science. (Critics have sometimes claimed that the organisation is full of positivists. I have never come across one of those, but VoF does have supporters and opponents of Karl Poppers falsificationist theory of science among its members.)”
Further reading
- Hansson, Sven Ove 1995: Vetenskap och ovetenskap : om kunskapens hantverk och fuskverk. Stockholm. Norstedts (2003). ISBN 91-7297-622-5.
- Hansson, Sven Ove & Sandin, Per (red.) 2000: Högskolans lågvattenmärken. Stockholm. Natur och kultur (2000). ISBN 91-27-07981-3.
- Jerkert, Jesper (red.) 2003: Antroposofin : en kritisk granskning. Stockholm. Leopard (2003). ISBN 91-7343-046-3.
- Jerkert, Jesper & Hansson, Sven Ove (red.) 2005: Vetenskap eller villfarelse. Stockholm. Leopard (2005). ISBN 91-7343-085-4.
- Jerkert, Jesper (red.) 2007: Fakta eller fantasier. Stockholm. Leopard (2007). ISBN 978-91-7343-162-0.