nonilmiah

Nonilmiah is an Indonesian term meaning not scientific or non-scientific. The word is formed from non- plus ilmiah (scientific) and is used to describe information, knowledge, or practices that have not been produced or validated through scientific methods such as empirical testing, replication, and peer review.

In everyday usage, nonilmiah covers a broad range of sources and claims, including traditional knowledge, common sense, anecdotal reports, religious or spiritual explanations, and some forms of journalism or popular culture that do not apply scientific standards.

Nonilmiah knowledge can be culturally meaningful or practically useful, but it may lack reliability and falsifiability.

Distinguishing nonilmiah from pseudoscience: while all pseudoscience is nonilmiah, not all nonilmiah claims are pseudoscientific; some reflect cultural beliefs, personal experience, or local expertise. Pseudoscience explicitly presents itself as scientific; nonilmiah often remains informal.

Implications: debates in education and policy about science literacy emphasize differentiating ilmiah evidence from nonilmiah explanations to support informed decision-making, while respecting diverse knowledge systems.

Examples: traditional healing practices without clinical trials; folk biology explanations; astrology, fortune-telling; lifestyle trends discussed without rigorous evidence.

See also: ilmu, ilmiah, pseudoscience, traditional knowledge, evidence-based medicine.