ideology, Science And Religon

Question 1

Defining and measuring religion

Answer 1

• Weber (substantive definition) - seeing it as a belief in a supernatural power that is unable to be scientifically explained. In other words, whether a belief can be considered religious or not depends on the substance of what is believed. Religion requires a belief in God or gods, or other supernatural beliefs.
• Durkheim (functional definition) - religion is defined by the social and psychological functions it performs for society. Application to other institutions and organisations that provide comfort to individuals
• Interpretive view (social constructive) - diversity of religious beliefs means there is not one definitive definition of what religion is. Process of understanding how a set of beliefs comes to exist. Focusing on the meanings ascribed to religious involvement.

Question 2

Differences between science and religion

Answer 2

-the empirical versus the supernatural
-open vs closed belief system
-evolving versus absolute knowledge
-objectivity vs subjectivity

Question 3

Science is an ‘open belief system’ – POPPER

Answer 3

karl popper:
- science has cognitive power - can explain, predict and control beyond religious beliefs
- falsification - open to contradiction and falsified claims can be discarded
- there is no absolute truth, knowledge grows through an objective system of theory testing

Question 4

Science is an ‘open belief system’ - Merton

Answer 4

•science thrives when supported by other institutions and values
•technology can support social welfare
•uses CUDOS norms to explain this
-communism
-universalism
-disinterestedness
-organised scepticism

Question 5

science as a closed system - KHUN

Answer 5

• science (like religion) is a closed system therefore not replaced it as it is the same
• science is based on shared assumptions - PARADIGMS (which aren’t questioned)
• this information informs beliefs, choice of question, methods and evidence
• shown through the case of DR VELINOWSKI - challenged scientific community with theory of world of collisions

Question 6

secularisation - BRUCE

Answer 6

• decline in religious belief has led science to be the dominant ideology
• bruce - technological world view: public now defer to science for explanations of the world around them
• expectation that beliefs/answers are based on evidence
eg when i’ll you turn to a doctors rather than seeing it as a punishment from God

only around 10% of British population now attend church

Question 7

interpretivists view - KNOOR-CENTINA

Answer 7

• all knowledge is socially constructed by groups using the resources available to them
• scientific facts are the product of a shared culture that prejudices expectations
• knort-centina argues new instruments permit scientists to fabricate new facts, is it actually real ie labs highly fabricated.

Question 8

marxist view of science

Answer 8

believe that it serves the interests of the ruling class
eg the desire for scientific knowledge is often driven by the needs of capitalism

Question 9

feminist view of science

Answer 9

it serves the interests of men
eg biological ideas are used to justify male dominance

Question 10

postmodernism - LYOTARD

Answer 10

claim that science is simply made up of meta narratives that claims to posses the truth. In reality science is juts another belief system, like religion that is used to dominate people