Ask your friend: “How would you know if that treatment was not working?” And by ‘not working’ I mean (a) no change (b) a change for the worse (c) a change for the better, but not related to that treatment (d) a change for the better, but at a greater cost than benefit. The more clear the idea of how to know if that treatment was not working, the more likely it’s science.
I don’t know you, your friend or your son’s friend. I don’t know what any of you need, although I’m sure just being compassionate instead of always being right is a part of it. My Popper-inspired suggestion above is good for distinguishing science from non-science. It may not be helpful to what any of you need.
Up-vote for Popper!
Ask your friend: “How would you know if that treatment was not working?” And by ‘not working’ I mean (a) no change (b) a change for the worse (c) a change for the better, but not related to that treatment (d) a change for the better, but at a greater cost than benefit. The more clear the idea of how to know if that treatment was not working, the more likely it’s science.
I don’t know you, your friend or your son’s friend. I don’t know what any of you need, although I’m sure just being compassionate instead of always being right is a part of it. My Popper-inspired suggestion above is good for distinguishing science from non-science. It may not be helpful to what any of you need.