pseudoscientist
Charlatan claiming expertise
A pseudoscientist is someone who claims scientific authority while ignoring or distorting scientific method.
Where scientists test hypotheses and accept correction, pseudoscientists cherry-pick evidence, resist falsification, and dress up speculation in scientific-sounding language: The pseudoscientist cited studies that had been thoroughly debunked.
Faker claiming false expertise
- quackFake healer or fowl noise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- fakerOne who pretends
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
swindler · deceiver · mountebank · huckster · snake oil salesman · scammer · trickster · pretender
Fraudulent medical practice
- snake oilFraudulent cure-all
- alchemyMystical metal transformation
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
- phrenologySkull-bump personality assessment
homeopathy · numerology · palmistry · crystal healing · creationism · flat-earthism · anti-vax · biorhythms
Instant, implausible healing solution
- panaceaUniversal cure
- elixirMythical healing draught
- detoxSubstance removal process
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
energy field · vibration · quantum · natural remedy · ancient wisdom · breakthrough · revolutionary · holistic
Origins-by-design proponent
- flat-eartherPlanetary shape skeptic
- anti-vaxxerOne rejecting vaccinations
- homeopathDilution-based medicine practitioner
- astrologerZodiac interpreter
phrenologist · numerologist · palmist · crystal healer · naturopath · faith healer · dowser · ufologist
Choosing only supporting examples
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
- unfalsifiableImpossible to prove wrong
- anecdotal evidenceSupport from individual accounts
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
fabrication · data manipulation · jargon · credentialism · motivated reasoning · selection bias
charlatan
Faker claiming false expertise
con artist · swindler · deceiver · mountebank · huckster · snake oil salesman · scammer · trickster · pretender · phony
quackery
Fraudulent medical practice
- snake oilFraudulent cure-all
- alchemyMystical metal transformation
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
phrenology · homeopathy · numerology · palmistry · crystal healing · creationism · flat-earthism · anti-vax · biorhythms · conversion therapy
miracle cure
Instant, implausible healing solution
toxin · energy field · vibration · quantum · natural remedy · ancient wisdom · breakthrough · revolutionary · holistic · wellness
creationist
Origins-by-design proponent
- flat-eartherPlanetary shape skeptic
- anti-vaxxerOne rejecting vaccinations
- homeopathDilution-based medicine practitioner
astrologer · phrenologist · numerologist · palmist · crystal healer · naturopath · faith healer · dowser · ufologist · parapsychologist
cherry-picking
Choosing only supporting examples
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
- unfalsifiableImpossible to prove wrong
- anecdotal evidenceSupport from individual accounts
misrepresentation · fabrication · data manipulation · jargon · credentialism · motivated reasoning · selection bias
- fraudscharlatan, faker, imposter, impostor, phony
- Outsider Intellectualsautodidact, outsider artist, garage inventor, amateur historian, polymath
- Deniersclimate denier, election denier, moon landing denier, flat earther, anti-vaxxer
- Online Manipulatorstroll, bot, shill, sock puppet, sockpuppet
pseudoscientistscientist
One who studies nature
researcher · empiricist · skeptic · experimentalist · critical thinker
pseudoscientistacademic
Relating to education or theory
Nobel laureate · scholar · doctor · professor · tenured professor