Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science.
“Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician, were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment.”
个人觉得，看重“非主流”的概念，而忽略了其后进一步对这个概念的范围限制“inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal”，会容易让人把“非主流”和“主流”对立起来，然后从对比的角度来论证。而实际上，当谈到astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal 限定下的inquiry时，我觉得是指对这个世界运作方式的解释。古时的解释方式是原始宗教，现在是科学和哲学，而现在科学解释不了的就是现代宗教（广义的哲学）。用历史发展的眼光分析会更灵活一点。