Framework Demarcation Theory of Science

A view that demarcation is always relative to a chosen conceptual framework or paradigm. There is no framework‑independent way to separate science from non‑science. Each framework (logical empiricism, structuralism, hermeneutics) provides its own demarcation criteria. Science is not a natural kind but a family of practices recognized within a framework. Disputes about demarcation are often disputes about which framework should be privileged. This theory is influenced by Kuhn’s paradigms and Feyerabend’s methodological anarchism.

Framework Demarcation Theory of Science Example: “Framework demarcation theory explained why a humanistic psychologist and a behaviorist disagreed on whether talk therapy was scientific—they operated under different frameworks with different rules.”

Framework Demarcation Theory of Science by Dumu The Void April 28, 2026