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Day 3: Pseudoscience

Is SETI Science or Pseudoscience?

What is SETI?

SETI stands for Search of Extraterrestrial Intelligence. It is a private search mainly testing different technological methods with the end goal of gathering evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence whether its through microwaves or improving their technology to search farther.

Discussion:

This discussion was a complete mind boggler; I switched sides twice hearing everybody out. I initially believed it to be pseudoscience, then switched to science, then again back to pseudoscience. I believed it to be pseudoscience on my own due to the fact that the broad claim of "aliens might exist" is unfalsifiable. However, I switched once I heard that technology may just be limiting us and our abilities to falsify or prove this claim; I believed that the process of creating and modifying new technology WAS in fact science. 

However, once again I was convinced when another person in class mentioned how testing the actual technology could never be a fair scientific trial. It is impossible to come to conclusions and record observations on the effectiveness of new SETI technology/communication methods due to the fact that the universe is ultimately infinite. In other words, when a new technology/method does not work during a certain period of time, it does not mean that that technology is ineffective due to the fact that the universe is infinite and there could potentially be an infinite observation time. (Ex. "Maybe our microwave technology will work if it travels further!")

How can SETI be more scientific?

I believe that SETI could be more scientific by collecting data and material from space and determining whether or not there is evidence of a life rather than looking for evidence of communication. By collecting data there may be some theories formed that could drive their search, rather than blindly hoping something or someone receives SETI signals. I also believe that their must be more observational methods whether its through developing breakthrough technology to retrieve more data in the form of in depth photos or something on a similar observable level. 

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