The Laws

Here's a list of "Laws" that may apply in a lot of debate we see these days. Funny and true at the same time. Found here from a certain " Baa Humbug"

Langmuir’s Laws of bad science
1 The maximum effect that is observed is produced by a causative agent of barely detectable intensity, and the magnitude of the effect is substantially independent of the intensity of the cause.
2. The effect is of a magnitude that remains close to the limit of detectability, or many measurements are necessary because of the low level of significance of the results.
3. There are claims of great accuracy.
4. Fantastic theories contrary to experience are suggested.
5. Criticisms are met by ad hoc excuses thought up on the spur of the moment.
6. The ratio of supporters to critics rises to somewhere near 50% and then falls gradually to zero.

Parkinson’s Laws
The progress of science is inversely proportional to the number of journals published.

Maier’s Law
If the facts don’t conform to the theory, they must be disposed of.
Corollaries:
1) The bigger the theory, the better.
2) The experiment may be considered a success if no more than 50% of the observed measurements must be discarded to obtain a correspondence with the theory.

Le Chatelier-Braun Principle
If any change is imposed on a system in equilibrium, the system will change in such a way as to counteract the imposed change.

The Bureaucrat’s credo
I cause change therefore I am.

The first law of toxicology
The poison is in the dose.

Law of unintended consequences
The actions of people (and especially of governments) always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended. These often outweigh the intended effects.

Brignell’s Laws
The law of league tables
All measures used as the basis of a league table always improve.
Corollary 1
All other measures get worse to compensate.
Corollary 2
What you measure is what you get.

The law of scientific consensus:
At times of high scientific controversy, the consensus is always wrong.

The law of beneficial developments:
The intensity of the scaremongering attack on any new development is proportional to the level of benefit that it endows.
Corollary:
Alternative therapies do not come under attack.

The law of computer models
The results from computer models tend towards the desires and expectations of the modellers.
Corollary
The larger the model, the closer the convergence.

The fundamental law of trends
If you can’t see it, it ain’t there.

The law of It
Whatever it is, someone will find a way of making money out of it.

The law of scientific equilibrium
If it is settled, it is not science.
If it is science, it is not settled.