Topic 7: Ideology and Science

Question 1

What is Ideology?

Answer 1

The term ideology is used in a wide variety of ways
Most commonly regarded as a set of ideas and values shared by a society group that:
- provide a vision to see and interpret the world
- Presents only a partial, incomplete or false view of reality
- Expresses, justifies and legitimises the interests of said group

Question 2

Different conceptions of Ideology

Answer 2

The common forms of Ideology:
- Pluralist ideology
- Dominant ideology
- Patriarchal ideology
- Political ideology
- Scientism

Question 3

Pluralist Ideology

Answer 3

It is a set of ideas that reflect the view that no one ideology is able to dominate others- no single dominant ideology
- Prevailing ideas in society reflects the interests of a wide range of social groups

Question 4

Dominant ideology

Answer 4

A set of ideas which justifies the social advantages of the wealthy, powerful and influential
This ideology also justifies the inequality and disadvantage faced by those who lack wealth, power and influence. Through ISAs and Hegemony (gramsci)

Question 5

Patriarchal Ideology

Answer 5

A set of ideas that supports and justifies the power of men (feminism)
Men are superior, more logical, less emotional than women
Gender roles are necessary as women are more suited to childcare

Question 6

Political ideology

Answer 6

A political ideology is one that provides an analysis and interpretation of how society should work
It suggests how power should be used by the government to influence events and change society
They can be broad like nationalism or liberalism or narrow like the conservative or labour parties

Question 7

Scientism

Answer 7

Is a belief system or ideology which claims that science and the scientific method alone can provide true knowledge and understanding of the world
It rejects any alleged truths that cannot be explained by the scientific method

Question 8

Scientific thinking

Answer 8

18th century- Enlightenment period
Bilton 2002
‘it was during the enlightenment that humans crossed the ‘great divide’ and moved from ignorance guesswork and faith or certainty and truth’ - Science

Question 9

How does science and religion differ?

Answer 9

• Positivism
  -Objectivity
  -Values Freedom
• Research methods
• Empirical Evidence
• Scientific method
  Comte: Science as a belief system -> scientific beliefs are different from other types of beliefs (value free) and rely upon evidence not faith

Question 10

Karl Popper- Science as a belief system

Answer 10

1. Hypothesis Formation
2. Falsification
3. Theory formation
4. Scrutiny
   Some criticism from sociologists who believe science is like any other belief system- shaped by society

Question 11

Social construction of scientific knowledge

Answer 11

• falsification suggests researchers should aim to prove their hypothesis false not true
• this is because no hypothesis can even by proven fully true
• But the more a hypothesis stand up to being prove false the more likely it is to be seen as ‘scientific truth’

Question 12

Enlightenment and Religious thinking

Answer 12

these scientific ideas crate problems for religion
- God cannot be proved and religious belief relies on faith rather than hard scientific evidence
Fraxer believed that the growth of scientific explanations of the world would cause religion to disappear
- However science can not tell us about everything
- So science and religion continue to exist side by side

Question 13

What does Bruce say about science and religion

Answer 13

It is the scientific method rather than scientific discoveries that have provided the greatest challenge to religion as a belief system
Bruce suggests that in modernity religious explanations and superstitions are gradually replaced by scientific explanations as many religious beliefs are shown to be false

Question 14

Has Science displaced religion?

Answer 14

• If we accept Popper’s view of falsification then we would expect to see a disappearance of religious thinking
  However…
  Millions of people still identify with religion and religious beliefs continue to have power over human behaviour… peoples temple, 9/11, terrorism, islamic fundamentalism

Question 15

Postmodern overview

Answer 15

A rapidly changing society is now marked by chaos and uncertainty
- metanarratives are no longer adequate in interpreting the world
- traditional factors have lost significance in understanding a globalised postmodern society
- Postmodern society is characterised by individualism, choice, diveristy and consumer culture

Question 16

What are the consequences for religion, science and ideology

Answer 16

the consequences of this is that postmodernists believe that religion, science and ideology are all meta-narratives claiming to provide a comprehensive explanation of the world
BUT
these are just one story among others that are equally as valid- they are all ideologies expressing the different beliefs of a diversity of groups

Question 17

Link of postmodernism and science

Answer 17

Science can no longer claim a superiority of its scientific methods, it claims to enable an understanding of the world have become discredited
- many scientists have also shown themselves to be serving the interests of the wealthy rather than pursuing value free research
- science has therefore lost its authority in society

Question 18

Link of postmodernism and Religion

Answer 18

Some contributions from PM:
1. Decline in meta narratives, fragmentation and secularisation
2. Religion as a consumer product and identity choice
3. Global spiritual supermarket
4. Vacuum of meaning
5. Disneyfication of religion