| X… |
Score |
| Sounds too good to be true |
+1 |
| Competes with an existing theory while offering simpler, more convenient (and often incomplete, less explanatory) explanations |
+1 |
| Main proponents are willing to test the theory/claim for validity |
-3 |
| Someone directly or indirectly benefits of people accepting it as a truth, as an individual (i.e. someone sells the more books/placebo the more people believe in it) |
+2 |
| Existing knowledge undeniably makes it impossible |
+3 |
| … and the main proponents ignore (and suggest followers to ignore) existing knowledge that clashes with their own ideas |
+4 |
| Has peer-reviewed research and/or credible evidence in case it is completely new idea |
-2 |
| Is a radically new idea |
+1 |
| Main proponents and experts are from the same field (e.g. evolutionary biologists defending natural selection vs. mathematicians defending creationism) |
-2 |
| People supporting the claim or theory are more interested of defending their position and/or creating more supporters rather than researching the subject |
+1 |