Name: Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science Publisher: Alabama Academy of Science Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Science and technology Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Alabama Academy of Science ISSN:0002-4112
Issue:
Date: April, 2009 Source Volume: 80 Source Issue: 2
DINOSAURS AND PSEUDOSCIENCE (A QUESTION ABOUT THE K-T BOUNDARY).
Edward Bosworth, College of Science, Columbus State University,
Columbus, GA 31907.
This talk is in response to a claim heard on a popular
science-related television show. The argument is that "If the giant
collision at the end of the Cretaceous Period killed all of the
dinosaurs, then the K-T boundary layer ought to contain some dinosaur
fossils. But it does not contain fossils. Thus the dinosaurs died before
the end of Cretaceous". This pat answer, as well as the simplistic
response "The dinosaurs just did not die in the right place"
each have a flavor of what I call "pseudoscience". This talk
will elaborate my belief that while the first argument is false, it has
enough logical content to be taken seriously. The talk will point to the
absolute necessity of examining the premises of the first argument,
mainly that the K-T boundary layer ought to contain fossils. Such an
examination might result in several interesting and fruitful lines of
research. NOTE TO THE EDITORS: This should be considered a talk in the
Philosophy of Science. If you decide to accept the paper, you may place
it in any area you want. ANOTHER NOTE: I have just noticed the necessity
of being a member of the Academy. 1 am not presently a member, but will
apply immediately if that can be done on-line.
Gale Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights
reserved.