Topic 7: Ideology and Science Flashcards
L2, L3, L4
What is Ideology?
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
Different conceptions of Ideology
The common forms of Ideology:
- Pluralist ideology
- Dominant ideology
- Patriarchal ideology
- Political ideology
- Scientism
Pluralist Ideology
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
Dominant ideology
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)
Patriarchal Ideology
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
Political ideology
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
Scientism
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
Scientific thinking
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
How does science and religion differ?
- 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
Karl Popper- Science as a belief system
- Hypothesis Formation
- Falsification
- Theory formation
- Scrutiny
Some criticism from sociologists who believe science is like any other belief system- shaped by society
Social construction of scientific knowledge
- 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’
Enlightenment and Religious thinking
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
What does Bruce say about science and religion
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
Has Science displaced religion?
- 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
Postmodern overview
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
What are the consequences for religion, science and ideology
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
Link of postmodernism and science
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
Link of postmodernism and Religion
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
