@8599d6ab They're absolutely right to raise the points they do. But the point about certain advocates and media taking demonstration of auxiliary elements for proof of the whole (something that unfortunately can + does happen even with solid theories) is independent of the question of IIT being a pseudoscience. To clearly communicate the latter claim, a minimum would be: a) What is IIT? b) What is a pseudoscience? c) Does IIT meet these criteria?

Definitions matter; otherwise we end up here! 

 @359dd83b 
Great conversation!  It strikes me that any declaration of pseudoscience is a prediction that an idea cannot be transformed into a testable theory. Can we ever do that in a clean way? I'm not so sure. 

 @8599d6ab A hypothetical ideal empirical researcher is one who, for every scientific belief they hold, can tell you which result from an empirical test would lead to them abandoning that belief. An advocate of IIT should be able to tell us what emp result would convince them IIT does not hold (even if the test is not currently practically possible). If none of them can do this, then state so clearly and base the pseudoscience claim on that rather than vague "until it is empirically testable." 

 @359dd83b 
To make sure I understand (what I anticipate are very good points), your proposal is something along the lines of: 

*) IIT researchers are claiming they have a theory (that's the T).

*) However, until they state what would constitute a falsification of their theory, it's pseudoscience.

Did I get it right? 

 @8599d6ab Let's say that if an advocate of a theory does not hold a concept of a potentially falsifying test, then that theory has the cognitive value of a pseudoscience for that person. If none of its advocates hold such a concept, then it is a de facto pseudoscience.

I don't want to be dogmatic about what a pseudoscience is though. What's important here is that someone claiming a given theory is pseudoscience must make explicit the criteria being used to make that claim. 

 @359dd83b 
OK, agree - when you say pseudoscience, define it.

This conversation also clarifies for me: why this is pseudoscience 🙂​. 

 @8599d6ab @359dd83b 
totally agree with this as well. letter in its current form may need revision for clarity and completeness. but Hakwan Lau will be posting a long accompanying piece in coming days that i think will address this concern and a number of other reactions that seem to be repeatedly cropping up, so perhaps that will help the discussion.