John Moore, in Science as a way of knowing, 1993, provided the following 8 criteria to determine what qualifies as science. (Taken from Ernst Mayr's, This is Biology)
1. A science must be based on data collected in the field or laboratory by observation or experiment, without invoking supernatural factors.
2. Data must be collected to answer questions and observations must be made to strengthen or refute conjectures.
3. Objective methods must be employed in order to minimize an possible bias.
4. Hypothoses must be consistent with the observations and compatible with the general conceptual framework.
5. All hypotheses must be tested, and their degree of validity (problem-solving capacity) must be compared.
6. Generalizations must be universally valid with the domain of the particular science. Unique events must be explicable without invoking supernatural factors.
7. In order to eliminate the possiblity of error, a fact or discovery must be fully accepted only if (repeatedly) confirmed by other investigators.
8. Science is characterized by the steady improvement of scientific theories, by the replacement or incomplete theories, and by the solution of previously puzzling problems.
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