impact of science and nationalism

Question 1

KARL POLYANI - science as a closed belief system

Answer 1

POLYANI argues all belief systems reject challenges to their claims – science is no different

e.g. in 1950 Dr Velikovsky published ‘worlds in collision’ - in which he put forward a new theory on origins of earth

Challenged the most fundamental assumptions of geology, astronomy and biology

Scientists rushed to reject it, and a boycott of Velikovsky’s publidher was organised

Question 2

KARL POPPER - science as an open belief system

Answer 2

Science theories are open to scrutiny, criticism and testing

Governed by a principle of falsification – where scientists try to falsify existing theories

If evidence from an experiment contradicts a theory, it can be disregarded and search for a better explanation can begin

In science, knowledge claims live or die by the evidence

Question 3

HORTON - religion as a closed belief system

Answer 3

• like POPPER, HORTON believes that science is an open belief system - where claims are open to challenge
• religion however, is a closed belief system - it claims to have special knowledge of the absolute truth
• e.g. idea of evolution is denied by many religions who believe in creationism

Question 4

BENEDICT ANDERSON - false nationalism

Answer 4

Argues nation is only an imagined community

Although we identify with it, we will never know the most of its members