Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning: Difference between revisions
This is how the terms are translated on VoF's own website, http://www.vof.se/about/ |
→Activities: It's a little random (or promotional) to mention the Indian society in particular; it's not more important than several others. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is in a different class, and is the only one mentioned in the source. |
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In 2010 the association had a membership above 2600. <ref>[http://www.vof.se/visa-presentation#start Vetenskap och Folkbildning: Hur det började]</ref> The current chairman is archeologist [[Martin Rundkvist]]. 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]]. |
In 2010 the association had a membership above 2600. <ref>[http://www.vof.se/visa-presentation#start Vetenskap och Folkbildning: Hur det började]</ref> The current chairman is archeologist [[Martin Rundkvist]]. 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]]. |
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VoF is |
VoF is part of an international network of skeptics' associations, the largest of which is the American [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]] (CSI).<ref>[http://www.vof.se/om-vof/internationellt/ International contacts</ref> 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 favours some unusual view on science.<ref>[http://www.vof.se/folkvett/19943-4ar-vi-skeptiker "Är vi skeptiker"], ''[[Folkvett]]'' 3-4/1994.</ref> |
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==Criticism== |
==Criticism== |
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Revision as of 19:19, 9 June 2013
Vetenskap och Folkbildning (Swedish: 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 "Enlightener of the Year" and "Obscurantist of the Year".
Activities
In 2010 the association had a membership above 2600. [1] The current chairman is archeologist Martin Rundkvist. 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 part of an international network of skeptics' associations, the largest of which is the American Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).[2] 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 favours some unusual view on science.[3]
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.[citation needed]
In academia the association enjoys quite a high degree of appreciation. Several Swedish universities offer courses utilising publications by its members.[4][5][6] 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.[7] Per-Anders Forstorp at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, suggests that VoF represents positivism and institutionalised intolerance.[8]
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 International 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.)”[9]
References
- ^ Vetenskap och Folkbildning: Hur det började
- ^ [http://www.vof.se/om-vof/internationellt/ International contacts
- ^ "Är vi skeptiker", Folkvett 3-4/1994.
- ^ God och Dålig Vetenskap 7,5 p
- ^ Vetenskap och tro, 5 poäng
- ^ Biologi för Filosofer, 1 poäng
- ^ Folkbildare sätter krokben för sig själva, SvD Brännpunkt, 10 dec 2007
- ^ Per-Anders Forstorp, 2005, The construction of pseudo-science: Science patrolling and knowledge policing by academic prefects and weeders VEST: Journal for science and technology studies vol. 18, no. 3-4, pp. 17-71
- ^ Sven Ove Hansson, "En rörelse av skeptiker?", i J. Jerkert och S. O. Hansson (red.), Fakta eller fantasier, Stockholm: Leopard, 2007, s. 186.
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.