Haldusteaduslik

Haldusteaduslik is an Estonian term used to describe claims, methods, or disciplines that present themselves as scientific but are not accepted as scientific by the mainstream. The expression is commonly applied to occult, fringe, or controversial approaches that rely on limited evidence, non-reproducible results, or nonstandard methodologies. It is typically used in critical or evaluative contexts.

In discourse, haldusteaduslik is often contrasted with established, evidence-based science. The label does not refer to a specific field, but to the quality and credibility of the methods and claims. Fields such as parapsychology, astrology, alchemy, or certain forms of alternative medicine may be described as haldusteaduslik when their results are not demonstrably verifiable under controlled conditions or when hypotheses are not testable by accepted scientific standards.

Critics argue that describing something as haldusteaduslik can serve to safeguard scientific integrity by flagging insufficient evidence. Critics also warn that the term can be used pejoratively to dismiss potentially fruitful lines of inquiry or to stigmatize researchers. Proponents of fringe topics may counter that conventional science is sometimes slow to adapt or open to new paradigms, and they may advocate for rigorous, transparent testing to determine validity.

Related concepts include pseudoscience, parapsychology, and occultism. The term reflects ongoing debates about what counts as science and how extraordinary claims should be evaluated.