Beliefs In Society- Science and Religion Flashcards
What is a belief system?
A set of ideas that claim to have knowledge about reality (a way of seeing the world).
What are the three types of belief systems?
- Religion: Claims about what the world is/should be like.
- Political ideologies: Claims about how society should be organized.
- Science: Claims about how the world is.
What do all belief systems have in common?
They make knowledge claims—assert they provide facts about reality.
Key question about belief systems:
Are science, religion, and ideology fundamentally different, or are they all just belief systems?
What defines an open belief system?
- Accepts criticism, testing, and scrutiny.
- Knowledge is based on evidence (e.g., science).
What defines a closed belief system?
- Rejects criticism, testing, and scrutiny.
- Knowledge is based on faith (e.g., religion).
How did science develop historically?
- Emerged during the Enlightenment (18th century) via rationalization.
- Based on empirical evidence, objectivity, and systematic testing.
What are the key characteristics of science?
- Empirical evidence (observable data).
- Objectivity (no personal bias).
- Rational/logical thinking.
- Testable theories.
- Inductive method (theories based on gathered evidence).
Enlightenment principles of science:
- Reason can understand the world.
- This understanding improves humanity.
What is “faith in science”?
The belief that science can solve all human problems (e.g., medical/technological progress).
How has science impacted religion?
- Secularization: Science has undermined religion by changing worldviews (e.g., Weber’s rationalization).
- Postmodern critique:Science’s drawbacks (e.g., pollution, WMDs) have reduced blind faith in it.
What are Comte’s three stages of societal development?
- Theological:Religious dominance (pre-18th century).
- Metaphysical:Philosophical dominance (18th century).
- Positive:Scientific dominance (19th century+).
Why is science unique?
It is fact-based, unlike religion/ideology (faith/opinion-based).
Popper What is falsificationism?
Science progresses by attempting to disprove theories (e.g., “All swans are white” fails with one black swan).
How does science differ from religion per Popper?
- Science is provisional (theories can be falsified).
- Religion claims absolute truth (immune to disproof).
Difference between Comte and Popper:
- Comte: Scientific laws are eternally true.
- Popper: Scientific laws are true until falsified.
What enabled science’s growth?
Support from institutions (e.g., Puritanism, capitalism, military).
What are the CUDOS norms?
- Communism: Knowledge is shared.
- Universalism: Judged by objective criteria.
- Disinterestedness: Knowledge for its own sake.
- Organized skepticism: No sacred truths.
Criticism of CUDOS:
Idealistic—scientists may seek fame (e.g., Nobel Prize).
Religion as a Closed System
Horton’s view:
- Religion claims absolute, sacred truth** (divine authority).
- Uses devices to resist challenges (e.g., circular reasoning).
Evans-Pritchard’s Azande study:
-
Witchcraft as a closed system:
- Explains misfortunes (e.g., snake bites).
- Uses poison oracle (benge) to identify witches.
- Social functions: Maintains cooperation/conformity.
- Self-reinforcing: Failed oracle tests are blamed on “bad benge,” not the system.
Critiques of Science
Kuhn: Paradigms
What is a paradigm?
Shared assumptions about acceptable data/methods/theories.
How is science “closed”?
- Normal science: Works within paradigms (rewards conformity).
- Rejects challenges (e.g., Galileo/Darwin initially ridiculed).
- Only changes during scientific revolutions (paradigm shifts).
Case study: Dr. Velikovsky
- Scientists rejected his theories without testing them.
- Shows science can be dogmatic.
Polanyi: Science as Closed
Three protection devices:
- Circularity: Ideas justify each other.
- Subsidiary explanations: Alternative justifications.
- Denial of rivals: Rejects opposing claims (e.g., creationism vs. evolution).
Interpretivists: Social Construction**
Key argument:
Scientific “facts” are socially constructed by communities.
Interpretivists: Social Construction**
Key argument:**
Scientific “facts” are socially constructed by communities.
Examples:
- Knorr-Cetina: Lab work is artificial (e.g., purified water, bred animals).
- Woolgar: Pulsars were initially labeled “LGM” (Little Green Men)—facts are negotiated.
- Berger & Luckmann: All belief systems (science/religion) are equally valid for legitimizing “universes of meaning.”
Marxist/Feminist Views**
Marxism**:
Science serves capitalism (e.g., industrial tech for profit).
Feminism**:
Science justifies patriarchy/colonialism (e.g., biological determinism) and excludes women.
Postmodernism**
Lyotard’s view:**
Science is a metanarrative (grand story) used to dominate people.
Why is science losing credibility?
Due to its harms (e.g., nuclear weapons, climate change).
Criticism of Lyotard:**
Postmodernism itself is a metanarrative.
Relativism**
Gould’s NOMA:**
- Science and religion are separate but equal.
- Science = facts; religion = morals.
Dawkins’ critique:
Religious faith is delusional/harmful (lacks evidence, fuels extremism).
