But your comparison (and fear) only holds if you believe that in 2020 we could see alchemy exist without being outright debunked. This is what I'm saying is dif

But your comparison (and fear) only holds if you believe that in 2020 we could see alchemy exist without being outright debunked. This is what I'm saying is different in the world of 2020 vs even just 110 years ago (phrenology). Gender studies aren't new either, sure they've been a resurgence but we're talking about decades by now. If it truly doesn't hold a single ounce of useful meaning as a field in a world of constant worldwide scrutiny that, even limited to the "scientists" of yore, has probably not doubled but gone beyond tenfold, where's the evidence to raze it all? We're fearing what we don't understand because it shatters our perceptions, but we're in the best of times to be facing new things with open arms in order to apply the full brunt of scientific techniques to it and sift through what will stand the test of time.