Homework I

Demarcation Criteria Applied (PENERAPAN KRETERIA DEMARKASI)

Instructions: Choose one of the theories listed below. Do a little bit of background reading
(Wikipedia should suffice) and then answer the following two questions:

1. According to Popper’s demarcation criterion, would your chosen theory qualify as

scientific? Explain why or why not.
2. According to Lakatos, would your theory qualify as scientific? Explain.

Answers should be typed. I would not expect you to need more than two page total (one half-
page paragraph for each question), though content is more important than length.

If you would like to consider a theory that is not on my list below, you must get permission prior
to turning in the assignment.

Approved Theories:

 Evolution
 Creationism
 Intelligent Design
 Newtonian Gravity (also with Kepler's Laws)
 Special Relativity
 General Relativity
 Abiogenesis
 Adler's Psychology
 Psychoanalysis
 Astrology
 Marx's Theory of History
 Mendelian Genetics
 Snell's Law
 String Theory