SCIENTISM: ORIGIN, CHARACTERISTICS, LIMITATIONS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The scientism refers to the belief that the scientific method can be applied to any problem from other disciplines that are not related or are different from the positive sciences.

Part of the idea that science is the only way to achieve knowledge in a genuine way. It affirms that the scientific path is the only path available to reach valid knowledge.

For its part, positive science is one that is oriented to study an empirical reality, that is, one that is based on experience, in order to generate hypotheses and interpretations that must then be validated or verified through experimentation. Many of the sciences that are considered positive are natural ones, such as biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and astronomy.

Multiple criticisms have arisen around scientism, for being considered a radical or extremist line of thought. Part of this is because on multiple occasions it can deny the validity of other knowledge obtained through other disciplines such as philosophy or religion.

It should be noted that the term scientism has taken different uses throughout history, and on multiple occasions it could be used as a derogatory way of referring to the inappropriate use of scientific statements.

It is also important to take into account that scientism is seen as a field or a philosophical position related to epistemology, that is, with the search and validation of knowledge. Therefore, scientism consists of related and pro-science claims, but it is not scientific claims per se.

Origin of scientism

The beginnings of scientism as a way of thinking can be placed in the middle of the 16th century with the scientific revolution and the emergence of the "new sciences" such as modern mathematics and physics.

Advances driven by these scientific discoveries at the time, put aside issues related to religiosity and spirituality. Science was beginning to be seen as the opportunity to create a new vision of the world.

During the 16th and 17th centuries a new way of seeing nature changed the scientific concept inherited by the Greeks to a new form of independent discipline. This is how science would no longer be linked to philosophy and also would begin to have a useful character for the fulfillment of goals in society.

Changes in education

There were also certain changes in education. Abstract reasoning began to appear as a new form of common sense, nature could also be seen as a machine rather than as an organism.

On the other hand, the development of experimentation also arises, a main element of the scientific method, which begins to be the main way of answering questions and theories.

Thus, the new criterion for the explanation of the phenomena would be oriented to answer the "how" instead of the "why", the latter being the main object of study of philosophical and Aristotelian thought, until then.

In this way the multiple main beliefs of scientism arise, which affirm, for example, that mathematical science appears as a model of science from which the others should be formed; also the idea that any conception of reality that is not accessible through the scientific method is classified as irrelevant or illusory.

Use of the term

Although the beginnings of thought that characterize scientism date back to the 16th century, the term was popularized during the 20th century. Many give the merit of spreading the term to the French philosopher and scientist Félix Alejandro Le Dantec.

Scientism has been related since its inception to empiricism and positivism. It is based on the excessive value that is given to the natural sciences over other areas of knowledge and learning. It uses as support the scientific method, which is considered the only means of validating theories and finding a truth.

Characteristics of scientism

Scientism values ​​the use of the scientific method as the only way to genuine knowledge

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-It is seen as a promotion, theory or tendency to value the natural sciences above the other disciplines.

-Although it is expressed in favor of the scientific method, it is not directly related to science.

-Your statements are not scientific but in favor of science and its method of experimentation.

-It has the purpose of promoting the scientific method as the only way to obtain knowledge.

-Its origin is related to the birth of modern sciences during the 16th and 17th centuries.

- Tends to reject or qualify as illusory the explanations that come from the spiritual, the metaphysical and the religious.

-It is related to positivism since it affirms that scientific knowledge is the only one with authentic character.

Limitations

Scientism today has diminished the arbitrary way of establishing the scientific method above all processes of obtaining knowledge. However, scientism has found its greatest limitation in its own claim that experimental science is the only way to genuine objective knowledge.

Based on this argument, any idea or theory originating from scientism would have to be subjected to scientific experimentation to find any validity. Despite this, scientism has been adopted as a stance and promotion of arguments that rest on beliefs about science that lack scientific justification.

Empiricism

Another great foundation that can limit scientism is to argue that knowledge can only be achieved through the empirical path, that is, through experience.

If a phenomenon or cause cannot be experienced, according to scientism, then its existence can be denied. Although it really could be that experience tells us that there are certain issues that cannot be grasped by experimentation.

For example, it is common within scientism to observe any living being as machines whose operation does not depend on entities such as the soul, of which it is said that an explanation has not been found through scientific experimentation.

In this way, scientism can even invalidate the concept of the soul, which has not only been part of religious beliefs but has been part of philosophy since ancient times.

Representatives

Mario Bunge (1919)

He is a scientific and physical philosopher, of Argentine origin. He is one of the best known defenders of scientism in contemporary times. He affirms in his writing In Praise of Scientism that this represents a preferable alternative to the humanist since science is capable of giving more results.

For Bunge, humanism grants alternatives that are based on tradition, hunches, trial and error. Instead, science leads to a better functioning because it allows obtaining objective or impersonal truths.

It also highlights the ability of science to grow exponentially through a process called "positive feedback." This process allows the product of a scientific procedure to be used for further experimentation.

Marquis de Condorcet (1743-1794)

Also known as Nicolás Condorcet, he was a French mathematician and philosopher whose works were closely related to issues such as politics, morals and economics.

He was one of the most influential writers on the subject of progress within the world of science and enlightened thought. He affirmed that the progress of the natural sciences contributed to the progress in other sciences related to morals and politics. On the other hand, he also referred to evil within a society as the result of ignorance, a factor inherent to human beings.

There are no Condorcet writings linked to religious or spiritual beliefs. For his part, he affirmed that his faith was oriented towards humanity and the ability that humans possess to progress. For him, the enlightenment of the natural world was the incentive for knowledge about the social and political world.

Examples of scientism

Scientism is more of a trend, theory or way of thinking, than a movement in itself, however, there are many who, by agreeing with this way of seeing science, promote scientistic thinking. Scientism can be reflected in the way some scholars of science tend to express themselves.

Peter Atkins: idea of ​​the existence of the universe

For example, in the writings of Peter Atkins, a chemist of English origin, it is shown that the universe can exist without invoking the idea of ​​a supreme being. In this way, it refers to beliefs in a god as not necessary for the theme of the creation of the universe.

Claims without scientific verification

Another case is that of the political journalist Michael Kinsley, in one of his articles published by Time magazine in 2001, in which he spoke in defense of research on stem cells in human embryos. Within the letter he stated that “These embryos are microscopic groups of a few differentiated cells. There is nothing human in them except potential, and if you decide to believe it, a soul.

A part of the scientist affirmation can be observed in the fact that the journalist assures that there is nothing human in embryos of human origin. A claim without any scientific verification. On the other hand, the idea that the belief in the soul is optional or not very influential on the subject is also expressed.

In general, the scientific arguments have a character of dogma, or belief that however is not qualified as scientific and is often seen as an exaggerated valuation of science over other aspects of knowledge. Scientific claims are actually part of a line of thought and have not been proven through experimentation.

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