Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Science, ideology and idolatry

There is an interesting article in the Daily Mail today (21/05/08) by Geoffrey Lean where the modern dogma of secular science is described as 'institutionalised idolatry.'
There are further examples given of the persecution of scientists because they made discoveries that did not suit the hegemony of scientism. He argues that scientism is damaging public trust in science.
"Beware scientists who insist they always know best" by Geoffrey Lean (Last updated at 12:44 AM on 21st May 2008)

I am currently reading Michael Polanyi's Science, Faith and Society, (OUP 1946). He argues that science must be free from authority in order to pursue the evidence as a truth seeking exercise. Scientism on the other hand sets up a sort of clerical authority that actually damages science. There is a need to cool passions so that science can progress within an ethical framework.

See also: Dispatches, ‘In God’s Name’ and liberal bullying, CSM, (20th May 2008).

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