Scientism

Question 1

Defintion

Answer 1

Scientism is an ideology that claims science alone can provide true knowledge and understanding of the world; it rejects any beliefs that cannot be explained by scientific method. Scientism reduces all knowledge to only that which is measurable. Scientism is said to be an ideology that justifies and protects the interests of scientists.

Question 2

A03

Answer 2

However, many scientists do not support scientism as they do not accept that science is the only way to understand the world. Some scientists are religious and hold religious beliefs about the meaning of life and value the spiritual fulfilment given by a religious belief. Other scientists admit that science struggles to explain human emotions, historical events or the holding of attitudes such as racism and sexism.