Ideology and science

Question 1

Post modernist (lyotard) ideology

Answer 1

-Any ideology that seeks to explain truth is a meta-narrative due to the fragmentation of society.

• Science is just another way of thinking that is used to dominate people.
• dangerous because they dont allow individual thought or free will.

Question 2

Marxist ideology

Answer 2

All ideologies including are manipulated by the ruling class to reproduce social class inequality.

They justify the capitalist system and prevent a working class revolution

feeds into the proletariats false class consciousness

Question 3

Feminist ideology

Answer 3

Patriarchy embedded into beliefs and practices to emphasise women’s subordination/ reinforce inferiority
e.g impure after childbirth

Question 4

impact of science on religion

Answer 4

Science/technology raised our standard of living to economic productivity.
led to a widespread faith in science.
Science enables us to explain, predict and control the world in which non-scientific belief systems cannot

Question 5

Science as a belief system

Answer 5

sociologists: science is a product of rationalisation as a result of protestant reformation (16th century)

Science influenced religion through undermining perspectives on beliefs.

Question 6

Karl Popper, open belief system

Answer 6

• scientists theories are open to criticism and testing by others
• falsification, can be tested and disproved, not sacred

Question 7

Kuhn, closed belief system

Answer 7

• closed system, self sustaining, set of shared assumptions (paradigm)
• paradigm (broad outlines) influences what you can research, if go against, will be shunned from community

Question 8

Similarities and differences between Ideology and Religion:

Answer 8

Both religion and ideology incorporate ideas, explain how things work in society and world, create a set of rules individuals should follow.

Ideology is a worldview, nature and universe influence on behaviour, religion is more personal, one’s relationship to the universe.

Ideology used to describe a belief system when regarded as morally wrong.

Religion includes a supernatural being, creator of the world. ideology focuses on logic, ignoring supernatural intervention.

Question 9

What is ideology?

Answer 9

set of basic ideas, a one sided view of reality, ideas that conceal the interests of a particular group

Question 10

Similarities and differences between Science and Religion:

Answer 10

Both explain how and why the earth exists

Religion relies on a belief in a supernatural being, responsible for the creation of the planet and beings on it (subjective).

Science explains the creation of earth through the big bang, using empirical evidence and observation of the universe. (objective)