TheNightling
@TheNightling
0
Some thoughts on Esoteric Sciences:
I’m not particularly fond of the term pseudoscience for things like parapsychology or cryptozoology. Ironically I am writing this out on Libre Office and it recognizes “Parapsychology” as a word but “Cryptozoology” is underlined in red like it has a spelling mistake.
So I’ve considered various terms and Esoteric Sciences seems to fit. I realize Esoteric suggests spiritual or magical but it also means hidden or not easily understood by the general public. Some people who are into cryptozoology may chafe at ”Esoteric” but I think it’s better than pseduoscience.
Also I’ve come to love the term paracryptozoology. It’s a subset of Cryptozoology that focuses on hypothetical paranormal connections. For example: Traditional Cryptozology fits creatures like the Yeti, or Lochness monster (considered possible Lazarus Taxa or Surviving Relics of bygone species). Meanwhile paracryptozoology explores paranormal connections to crypted or paranormal entities that are of a corporeal or quasi-corporeal nature such as The Black Eyed Children, Shadow People, Lycanthropes, or Sidhe.
I already liked exploring the overlap with Parapsychology and Cryptozoology so it’s reassuring to know that I am not the only person who, not only noticed the overlap, but embraced a term for the overlap- that expansive grey area where the two fields merge.
The main reason Parazoology isn’t the accepted term for the overlap is because Parazoology is already used for the study of protozoa and has also been used in fiction with an already very limited list of actual use in real-world academia, diminishing it’s potential for credibility.
Also something peculiar is Google and its AI Overview considers Parapsychology more of a legitimate science than Cryptozoology and yet if you google “Paracryptozoology” it suggests that the merging of Cyrptozoology with parapsychology diminishes its scientific credibility. What’s that all about?
I think what we call pseudosciences are better titled as Esoteric Sciences. Occult sciences isn’t quite accurate though it can fit under Esoteric as an umbrella.
Parapsychology - The Scientific examination and exploration of claims of the paranormal.
Cryptozoology – The scientific exploration and study of undiscovered hypothetical animal life.
Paracryptozoology – The scientific exploration and study of undiscovered corporeal entities that may have connections to psychic phenomena / the paranormal.
Demonology – The study of supposed demon activity and lore.
On a lesser level others that may fit here are Astrology, Palmestry, Numerology, and Metaphysics.
I’m not particularly fond of the term pseudoscience for things like parapsychology or cryptozoology. Ironically I am writing this out on Libre Office and it recognizes “Parapsychology” as a word but “Cryptozoology” is underlined in red like it has a spelling mistake.
So I’ve considered various terms and Esoteric Sciences seems to fit. I realize Esoteric suggests spiritual or magical but it also means hidden or not easily understood by the general public. Some people who are into cryptozoology may chafe at ”Esoteric” but I think it’s better than pseduoscience.
Also I’ve come to love the term paracryptozoology. It’s a subset of Cryptozoology that focuses on hypothetical paranormal connections. For example: Traditional Cryptozology fits creatures like the Yeti, or Lochness monster (considered possible Lazarus Taxa or Surviving Relics of bygone species). Meanwhile paracryptozoology explores paranormal connections to crypted or paranormal entities that are of a corporeal or quasi-corporeal nature such as The Black Eyed Children, Shadow People, Lycanthropes, or Sidhe.
I already liked exploring the overlap with Parapsychology and Cryptozoology so it’s reassuring to know that I am not the only person who, not only noticed the overlap, but embraced a term for the overlap- that expansive grey area where the two fields merge.
The main reason Parazoology isn’t the accepted term for the overlap is because Parazoology is already used for the study of protozoa and has also been used in fiction with an already very limited list of actual use in real-world academia, diminishing it’s potential for credibility.
Also something peculiar is Google and its AI Overview considers Parapsychology more of a legitimate science than Cryptozoology and yet if you google “Paracryptozoology” it suggests that the merging of Cyrptozoology with parapsychology diminishes its scientific credibility. What’s that all about?
I think what we call pseudosciences are better titled as Esoteric Sciences. Occult sciences isn’t quite accurate though it can fit under Esoteric as an umbrella.
Parapsychology - The Scientific examination and exploration of claims of the paranormal.
Cryptozoology – The scientific exploration and study of undiscovered hypothetical animal life.
Paracryptozoology – The scientific exploration and study of undiscovered corporeal entities that may have connections to psychic phenomena / the paranormal.
Demonology – The study of supposed demon activity and lore.
On a lesser level others that may fit here are Astrology, Palmestry, Numerology, and Metaphysics.
