Since there are already factions identified as scientific and not, I don’t think faction not identified with the word feels guilty about the lack of identification, which is what I think you’re saying. I think this is just snubbing their opponents’ label. (cf jfm)
Many groups take up the word “science” as a PR move. I suspect that it is sometimes (in particular in anthropology) also a bit of “dark side epistemology” or at least to help them act more indignant. (cf Jayson)
After following this a bit more, and looking at some of the mailing list threads behind the scenes (threads in reaction to the change, not leading up to the change), it’s pretty clear that what’s going on on both sides is group identity signaling. The “pro-science” side is not really any more committed to empirical evidence or analytical rigor than the other (which I’d loosely identify as postmodernist).
Since there are already factions identified as scientific and not, I don’t think faction not identified with the word feels guilty about the lack of identification, which is what I think you’re saying. I think this is just snubbing their opponents’ label. (cf jfm)
Many groups take up the word “science” as a PR move. I suspect that it is sometimes (in particular in anthropology) also a bit of “dark side epistemology” or at least to help them act more indignant. (cf Jayson)
After following this a bit more, and looking at some of the mailing list threads behind the scenes (threads in reaction to the change, not leading up to the change), it’s pretty clear that what’s going on on both sides is group identity signaling. The “pro-science” side is not really any more committed to empirical evidence or analytical rigor than the other (which I’d loosely identify as postmodernist).