The 16 Axes of the Epistemology Spectrum

The ultimate model, adding the final dimensions of metaphysical commitment and epistemic value. Building on the 12 Axes, we add: Axis 13: Realist-Antirealist (knowledge aims to describe reality as it is vs. knowledge aims to manage experience). Axis 14: Objectivist-Constructivist (knowledge discovers what's there vs. knowledge builds what works). Axis 15: Universalist-Relativist (knowledge holds for everyone vs. knowledge is relative to framework). Axis 16: Valuable-Instrumental (knowledge good in itself vs. knowledge good for what it does). These sixteen axes generate 65,536 potential positions—enough to capture every epistemological theory, every debate, every perspective. The 16 Axes reveal that epistemology isn't a single question with a single answer—it's a multidimensional space of choices about what knowledge is, where it comes from, how it's structured, what it's for, and who it's for. Realist-objectivist-universalist-valuable knowledge is one vision (Plato). Constructivist-relativist-instrumental knowledge is another (pragmatism). The 16 Axes don't tell you which position is right—they give you language to understand why the debate is so rich, so old, and so unresolved.

The 16 Axes of the Epistemology Spectrum "You want one epistemology to rule them all. The 16 Axes show that's impossible—there are 65,536 possible positions, each with its own logic, its own strengths, its own blind spots. Realism works for physics maybe, but for ethics? Relativism is dangerous but also unavoidable. Constructivism explains science well but struggles with truth. The 16 Axes aren't a menu to choose from—they're a map of the territory. You're not looking for the right answer; you're looking for your coordinates. And until you know where you stand, you don't even know what you're asking."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 2 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum

A foundational model for distinguishing pseudoscience from science along two fundamental dimensions. The first axis runs from Methodologically Sound (uses scientific methods: hypothesis testing, peer review, self-correction) to Methodologically Unsound (relies on anecdote, authority, or unfalsifiable claims). The second axis runs from Progressive Research Program (generates new questions, evolves with evidence) to Stagnant Dogma (repeats same claims regardless of evidence, immune to falsification). These two axes create four categories: sound-progressive (mainstream science), sound-stagnant (some legit but moribund fields), unsound-progressive (rare—maybe early stages of fringe ideas that later become science), unsound-stagnant (classic pseudoscience: astrology, homeopathy). The model reveals that pseudoscience isn't simply "wrong science"—it's science that fails on methodology and refuses to progress.

The 2 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum "You keep calling anything you disagree with pseudoscience. The 2 Axes show otherwise: homeopathy is unsound and stagnant—that's pseudoscience. A controversial but testable hypothesis is unsound but progressive—that's fringe science, not pseudoscience. Different axes, different judgments. Learn the difference."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 4 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum

An expanded model adding two crucial dimensions for finer discrimination. Axis 1: Methodological Soundness (valid methods vs. wishful thinking). Axis 2: Progressive-Stagnant (evolves vs. repeats). Axis 3: Falsifiability-Unfalsifiability (claims can be tested and potentially disproven vs. claims immune to counterevidence). Axis 4: Engagement-Ignorance (engages with scientific community and criticism vs. ignores or dismisses it). These four axes create sixteen positions. Creation science is unsound, stagnant, unfalsifiable (if God can create with apparent age), ignorant (dismisses evidence). String theory is sound, progressive, unfalsifiable (currently), engaged—so it's controversial science, not pseudoscience. The 4 Axes reveal that pseudoscience is defined by clusters of failures, not just one.

The 4 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum "You think astrology is pseudoscience because it's wrong. The 4 Axes show it's deeper: astrology is unsound (anecdote-based), stagnant (same charts for millennia), unfalsifiable (vague predictions), ignorant (no engagement with astronomy). That's four failures, not one. Wrong isn't pseudoscience—refusing to engage with being wrong is."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 6 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum

A comprehensive model adding dimensions of motivation and explanatory power. Axis 1: Methodological Soundness. Axis 2: Progressive-Stagnant. Axis 3: Falsifiability-Unfalsifiability. Axis 4: Engagement-Ignorance. Axis 5: Motivated-Ingenuous (driven by ideological/economic agenda vs. genuine inquiry). Axis 6: Explanatory-Ad Hoc (generates new explanations vs. just invents excuses for failed predictions). These six axes generate sixty-four positions. Anti-vax claims are unsound, stagnant, unfalsifiable (vaccines cause everything, so nothing counts), ignorant, motivated (ideological/economic), ad hoc (new excuses for every failure). The 6 Axes reveal that pseudoscience isn't just bad science—it's science that's bad in multiple, reinforcing ways.

The 6 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum "You want to know why climate denial is pseudoscience? The 6 Axes count the ways: unsound methods, stagnation (same arguments for decades), unfalsifiable (any weather proves their point), ignorant (ignore 99% of research), motivated (fossil fuel funding), ad hoc (every new data point gets explained away). Six axes, six failures. That's not skepticism—that's a syndrome."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 8 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum

A detailed model adding dimensions of community structure and relationship to authority. Axis 1: Methodological Soundness. Axis 2: Progressive-Stagnant. Axis 3: Falsifiability-Unfalsifiability. Axis 4: Engagement-Ignorance. Axis 5: Motivated-Ingenuous. Axis 6: Explanatory-Ad Hoc. Axis 7: Community-Solitary (has its own pseudo-academic institutions vs. lone geniuses with no community). Axis 8: Authority-Evidence (appeals to ancient wisdom/gurus vs. appeals to evidence). These eight axes create 256 positions. Homeopathy has its own journals (community), appeals to "like cures like" (authority), and fails on all previous axes. The 8 Axes demonstrate that pseudoscience is a multidimensional phenomenon that mimics science's social structures while violating its core norms.

The 8 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum "Creation science has journals and conferences—so it must be science, right? The 8 Axes show why that fails: community structure (axis 7) is present, but it fails on method, progress, falsifiability, engagement, motivation, explanation, and appeals to authority. One axis doesn't save the other seven. Mimicking science isn't the same as doing it."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 12 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum

An ultra-fine-grained model adding dimensions of cognitive style and historical trajectory. Building on the 8 Axes, we add: Axis 9: Empirical-Anecdotal (relies on systematic data vs. stories and testimonials). Axis 10: Parsimonious-Lavish (simple explanations vs. multiplying entities needlessly). Axis 11: Consistent-Contradictory (internally coherent vs. self-contradictory). Axis 12: Cumulative-Erasive (builds on past knowledge vs. constantly starts over). These twelve axes generate 4096 positions. Holocaust denial fails on nearly all axes: anecdotal (cherry-picks), lavish (complex conspiracies), contradictory (can't keep story straight), erasive (ignores overwhelming evidence). The 12 Axes reveal that pseudoscience isn't a binary category but a region in multidimensional space—and some claims are more pseudoscientific than others.

The 12 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum "You want a simple test for pseudoscience? The 12 Axes are the test. Each axis is a question: does it use evidence or anecdotes? Simple explanations or endless excuses? Consistent or contradictory? Cumulative or starting over? Twelve questions, twelve chances to fail. If you're failing most of them, you're not doing science—you're doing something else, and you should admit it."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 16 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum

The ultimate model, adding the final dimensions of relationship to truth and social function. Building on the 12 Axes, we add: Axis 13: Truth-Seeking-Identity-Protecting (aims at truth vs. aims at protecting group identity). Axis 14: Self-Correcting-Defensive (changes when wrong vs. doubles down). Axis 15: Transparent-Opaque (methods open to scrutiny vs. hidden or secret). Axis 16: Beneficial-Harmful (effects on human welfare). These sixteen axes generate 65,536 potential positions—enough to capture every fringe theory, every pseudoscience, every pathological science. The 16 Axes reveal that pseudoscience isn't a single thing but a family resemblance concept: claims that cluster on the wrong ends of multiple axes. Astrology fails on most axes. Homeopathy fails on most. Climate denial fails on most. But they fail in different patterns, for different reasons, with different consequences. The 16 Axes don't give you a simple pseudoscience detector—they give you a map of the territory, showing why some claims are closer to science and others are farther away, why some are harmless and others deadly, why some are just confused and others are actively deceptive.

The 16 Axes of the Pseudoscience Spectrum "You want a line between science and pseudoscience. The 16 Axes show there is no line—there's a multidimensional space with 65,536 positions. Astrology is far on method, progress, falsifiability, engagement, motivation, explanation, community, authority, evidence, parsimony, consistency, cumulation, identity (it's identity-protecting), defensiveness (doubles down), transparency (methods public but bad), and harm (mostly harmless). Climate denial is far on different axes, with different harms. The 16 Axes don't draw a line—they give you a language for why things are different, even when they're both not science. That's not relativism—that's precision."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026