What Exactly is "Anti-Science"?
Though not formally defined in any dictionary or encyclopedia, anti-science can be best defined as: that which pertains to any idea, action, or trend that actively rejects scientific fact, the scientific method, or the idea of scientific advancement in and of itself. Essentially, as the name suggests, anti-science movements oppose science.
It is important to note that many of the movements that fall within the anti-science category do not consider themselves to be rejecting scientific fact; rather they maintain that they are correct in their beliefs and that the traditional or conventional science is wrong. For example, anti-GMO groups claim that genetically modified crops are dangerous and unhealthy and that scientific or governmental reports that say otherwise are lying. These movements are anti-science then, not because they reject the concept of factual evidence, but because they reject scientific progress. In the case of anti-GMO groups and organic eaters, the relevant scientific progress is genetic engineering. Though it is praised by the scientific community as a breakthrough technique, genetic engineering is condemned by these anti-science movements solely because it is an example of new science interfering with nature. It is progress to a group that is intent on stagnancy.
Thus despite its murky connotation, the term anti-science serves as a practical umbrella term for a variety of trends relevant to this website. These trends, including anti-GMO, organic, and general "all-natural" eating, all share the common theme of rejecting scientific interference in our food. They insist that science is artificial and thus inherently evil and that "natural" is always better. Hence I have lumped them together under the name Anti-Science Foods Movement.
It is important to note that many of the movements that fall within the anti-science category do not consider themselves to be rejecting scientific fact; rather they maintain that they are correct in their beliefs and that the traditional or conventional science is wrong. For example, anti-GMO groups claim that genetically modified crops are dangerous and unhealthy and that scientific or governmental reports that say otherwise are lying. These movements are anti-science then, not because they reject the concept of factual evidence, but because they reject scientific progress. In the case of anti-GMO groups and organic eaters, the relevant scientific progress is genetic engineering. Though it is praised by the scientific community as a breakthrough technique, genetic engineering is condemned by these anti-science movements solely because it is an example of new science interfering with nature. It is progress to a group that is intent on stagnancy.
Thus despite its murky connotation, the term anti-science serves as a practical umbrella term for a variety of trends relevant to this website. These trends, including anti-GMO, organic, and general "all-natural" eating, all share the common theme of rejecting scientific interference in our food. They insist that science is artificial and thus inherently evil and that "natural" is always better. Hence I have lumped them together under the name Anti-Science Foods Movement.