Scientism 167742 224102654 2008-07-07T09:19:49Z 195.53.5.10 /* See also */ + Catalan iw {{distinguish2|[[Scientism (Foundation)|Scientism]] in the [[The Foundation Series|Foundation series]]}} The term '''scientism''' can be used as a neutral term to describe the view that [[natural science]] has authority over all other interpretations of life, such as [[philosophy|philosophical]], [[religious]], [[mythical]], [[Spirituality|spiritual]], or [[humanism|humanistic]] explanations, and over other fields of inquiry, such as the [[social sciences]]. It also can imply a criticism of a perceived misapplication or misuse of the authority of science in either of two directions: #The term is often used as a [[pejorative]]<ref>Scientism: "''an exaggerated trust in the efficacy of the methods of natural science applied to all areas of investigation (as in philosophy, the social sciences , and the humanities)''" definition from: Ryder, Martin. "Scientism." ''Encyclopedia of Science Technology and Ethics''. 3rd ed. Detroit: MacMillan Reference Books, 2005.</ref><ref name="ODP">Scientism: "''Pejorative term for the belief that the methods of natural science, or the categories and things recognized in natural science, form the only proper elements in any philosophical or other inquiry. The classic statement of scientism is the physicist E. Rutherford's saying 'there is physics and there is stamp-collecting.' ''", definition from ''[[The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy]]''. n.d.</ref> to indicate the improper usage of [[science]] or scientific claims.<ref>After reviewing the usage of the term by contemporary scholars, Gregory R Peterson concludes that "''the best way to understand the charge of scientism is as a kind of logical fallacy involving improper usage of science or scientific claims.''" (p.753). From: "[[Peterson, Gregory R.]] (2003) Demarcation and the Scientistic Fallacy. ''[[Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science]]'' '''38''' (4), 751-761. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2003.00536.x"</ref> In this sense, the charge of scientism often is used as a counter-argument to appeals to scientific authority in contexts where science might not apply,<ref>[http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/scientism_este.html Scientism] by Martin Ryder - University of Colorado. (Accessed: July 05 2007)</ref> such as when the topic is perceived to be beyond the scope of [[Scientific method|scientific inquiry]]. #The term is also used to pejoratively refer to "the belief that the methods of natural science, or the categories and things recognized in natural science, form the only proper elements in any philosophical or other inquiry,"<ref name="ODP"/> with a concomitant "elimination of the psychological dimensions of experience".<ref>Robert Bannister, [http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/rbannis1/AmCult/H47%2313.html "Behaviorism, Scientism and the Rise of The "Expert"]</ref><ref>Haack, Susan, (2003). Defending Science Within Reason: Between Scientism and Cynicism. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books</ref> It thus expresses a position critical of (at least the more extreme expressions of) [[positivism]].<ref>Rey, Abel. "Review of ''La Philosophie Moderne''." ''The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods'' 6.2 (1909): 51-53.</ref><ref>cf. Abraham Maslow: "There are criticisms of orthodox, 19th Century scientism and I intend to continue with this enterprise." ''Toward a Psychology of Being'', Preface to 1st edition</ref> (Compare: '''[[scientific imperialism]]'''.<ref>For an example see Zwartz, Barney; "[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/17/1123958129538.html Let's have a proper scientific debate]", [[The Age]], 18 August, 2005</ref>) ==Overview== Reviewing the references to scientism in the works of contemporary scholars, [[Gregory R. Peterson]]<ref name="fallacy">"[[Peterson, Gregory R.]] (2003) Demarcation and the Scientistic Fallacy. ''[[Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science]]'' '''38''' (4), 751-761. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2003.00536.x"</ref> detects two main broad themes: # it is used to criticize a totalizing view of science as if it were capable of describing ''all'' [[reality]] and [[knowledge]], or as if it were the ''only'' true way to acquire knowledge about reality and the nature of things; # it is used to denote a border-crossing violation in which the theories and methods of one (scientific) discipline are inappropriately applied to another (scientific or non-scientific) discipline and its domain. Examples of this second usage is to label as scientism the attempts to claim science as the only or primary source of human values (a traditional domain of [[ethics]]), or as the source of [[meaning]] and [[purpose]] (a traditional domain of [[religion]] and related [[worldviews]]). According to [[Mikael Stenmark]] in the ''Encyclopedia of science and religion'',<ref name="expansionism">As described by Mikael Stenmark, author of the article about the topic of Scientism in: J. Wentzel Vrede van Huyssteen (editor). Encyclopedia of science and religion, 2nd ed. Thomson Gale. 2003. (p.783)</ref> while the [[doctrine]]s that are described as scientism have many possible forms and varying degrees of ambition, they share the idea that the boundaries of science (that is, typically the natural sciences) could and should be expanded so that something that has not been previously considered as a subject pertinent to science can now be understood as part of science, (usually with science becoming the sole or the main arbiter regarding this area or dimension). In its most extreme form, scientism is the [[faith]] that science has no boundaries, that in due time all human problems and all aspects of human endeavor will be dealt and solved by science ''alone''. This idea is also called the [[Myth of Progress]]<ref>G. Monastra, M. M. Zarandi, Science and the Myth of Progress, 2004.</ref>. Stenmark proposes the expression ''scientific expansionism'' as a synonym of scientism. ===Relevance to the science and religion debate=== Gregory R. Peterson remarks that "for many theologians and philosophers, scientism is among the greatest of intellectual sins".<ref name="fallacy"/> In fact, today the term is often used against vocal critics of religion-as-such.<ref>Robinson, Marilynne. "Hysterical Scientism: The Ecstasy of Richard Dawkins."''Harper's Magazine'' Nov. 2006.</ref> For instance, the philosopher of science [[Daniel Dennett]] responded to criticism of his book ''[[Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon]]'' by saying that "when someone puts forward a scientific theory that [religious critics] really don't like, they just try to discredit it as 'scientism'".<ref name="byrnes" >Byrnes, Sholto. "[http://www.newstatesman.com/200604100019 'When it comes to facts, and explanations of facts, science is the only game in town']" ''New Statesman'' 10 Apr. 2006.</ref> Meanwhile, in an essay that emphasizes parallels between scientism and traditional religious movements, [[The Skeptics Society]] founder [[Michael Shermer]] self-identifies as "scientistic" and defines the term as "a scientific worldview that encompasses natural explanations for all phenomena, eschews [[supernatural]] and [[paranormal]] speculations, and embraces empiricism and [[reason]] as the twin pillars of a philosophy of life appropriate for an Age of Science."<ref>Shermer, Michael. "[http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000AA74F-FF5F-1CDB-B4A8809EC588EEDF The Shamans of Scientism]." ''[[Scientific American]]'' June 2002.</ref> ==Range of meanings== Standard dictionary definitions include the following applications of the term "scientism": *The use of the style, assumptions, techniques, and other attributes typically displayed by scientists.<ref>''Random House Dictionary of the English Language.'' 1987.</ref> *Methods and attitudes typical of or attributed to the natural scientist.<ref>''Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.'' 1983.</ref> *An exaggerated [[Trust (social sciences)|trust]] in the efficacy of the [[method]]s of natural science applied to all areas of investigation, as in philosophy, the social sciences, and the humanities.<ref>Webster. 1983.</ref> *The use of scientific or pseudoscientific language."<ref>Webster. 1983. Definition #3 for Scientism.</ref> * The contention that the [[social sciences]] should be held to the somewhat stricter interpretation of [[scientific method]] used by the [[natural sciences]].<ref>Webster. 1983. Definition #2 for Scientism.</ref> *The belief that some or all of the social sciences, such as economics and sociology, are ''not'' sciences (or not ''solely'' engaged in science) because they commonly do not hold to the somewhat stricter interpretation of [[scientific method]] used by the natural sciences.<ref>Webster. 1983. Definition #2 for Scientism.</ref> *The belief that scientific knowledge is the foundation of all knowledge and that, consequently, scientific argument should always be weighted more heavily than other forms of knowledge, particularly those which are not yet well described or justified from within the rational framework, or whose description fails to present itself in the course of a debate against a scientific argument. It can be contrasted by doctrines like [[historicism]], which hold that there are certain "unknowable" truths.<ref> The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. [http://www.bartleby.com/61/75/S0147500.html Bartleby.com] </ref> (this reference is no longer states this). * As a form of [[dogma]]: "In essence, ''scientism'' sees science as the absolute and only justifiable access to the truth."<ref>http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/gengloss/sciism-body.html "Scientism" PBS.org. ''Faith and Reason.''</ref> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==See also== {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} * [[Antiscience]] * [[Antireductionism]] * [[Conflict thesis]] * [[Evolutionism]] * [[Mary Midgley]] * [[Obscurantism]] * [[Panglossianism]] * [[Philosophy of science]] {{col-break}} * [[Positivism]] * [[Pseudoscience]] * [[Pseudoskepticism]] * [[Scientistic materialism]] * [[Technologism]] * [[Techno-utopianism]] * [[World view]] {{col-break}} {{portalpar|Philosophy|Socrates.png}} {{col-end}} [[Category:Philosophical terminology]] [[Category:Science]] [[Category:Philosophy of science]] [[Category:Political philosophy]] [[Category:20th century philosophy]] [[Category:19th century philosophy]] [[Category:Types of scientific fallacy]] [[az:Ssientizm]] [[bg:Сциентизъм]] [[ca:Cientisme]] [[da:Scientisme]] [[de:Szientismus]] [[es:Cientifismo]] [[fr:Scientisme]] [[it:Scientismo]] [[he:מדענות]] [[pl:Scjentyzm]] [[pt:Cientificismo]] [[ru:Сциентизм]] [[sk:Scientizmus]] [[sr:Сцијентизам]] [[fi:Skientismi]] [[sv:Scientism]] [[tr:Bilimcilik]] [[uk:Сцієнтизм]] [[zh:科学主义]]