Scientism -The idea that science is the only path to knowledge

You have probably heard it said, “You have to prove that scientifically.” Or even in news reports that “studies have shown . . . ” Or maybe you have heard that science is the final or ultimate source of knowledge. Behind these sentiments may lie a belief called “scientism.” This mentality has even been put simply: “If I can’t see it, hear it, or feel it, it doesn’t exist.”[i]

What is Scientism?

This belief elevates science to a place of religious devotion and is known as “scientism.” Scientism is the idea that we should believe only what can be proven scientifically. That is, science is the sole source of knowledge and truth.

No doubt, science is a wonderful means of finding out truths about the world and a means of knowledge about the natural world, but science is not the final arbiter of truth. Nevertheless, some claim (or even act as if) science is the only means of knowledge and truth. Here are some examples of people asserting scientism:

“Whatever knowledge is attainable must be attained by scientific methods; and what science cannot discover, mankind cannot know” – (Bertrand Russell Religion and Science, 243).

“Traditionally, these are questions for philosophy, but philosophy is dead. Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics. Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge” – (Stephen Hawking The Grand Design, 13).

“Science, as the only begetter of truth” – (Richard Lewontin, The New York Review of Books1/9/97).

“We trust science as the only way to acquire knowledge. That is why we are so confident about atheism” – (Alex Rosenberg The Atheist’s Guide to Reality, 20).

Problems with Scientism

Despite all the acclaim, there are several problems with scientism:

Scientism is too restrictive. If science were the only source and final arbitrator of knowledge and truth, then whole fields of knowledge and truth would have to be abandoned, which most of us consider legitimate truths and knowledge claims. For example, if science is the only source of truth, we would have to abandon mathematical truths, historical knowledge, logical, moral, and aesthetic truths. Any theory of knowledge (such as scientism) that excludes these obvious avenues of truth must be abandoned before you abandon these truths.

Scientism is self-refuting – If the only source of knowledge and truth is science, then the claim that “the only source of knowledge and truth is science” is not knowable or true. Why? Because the claim is not true “because of science” or” known through science,” and if science is not known by science, you shouldn’t believe that only science leads to truth and knowledge.

Science is a great and noble discipline. We gain much knowledge and truth through it and will continue to gain knowledge and truth through science. But let’s not come with the mistaken belief that science is the best or only means of truth and knowledge. The attitude that only science can lead to knowledge and truth is unwarranted, misleading, and self-contradictory.

Scientism has been Thoroughly Discredited

In his excellent work Love Your God With All Your Mind , J. P. Moreland shares why we should reject scientism:

“What I do reject is the idea that science and science alone can claim to give us knowledge. This assertion—known as scientism—is patently false and, in fact, not even a claim of science but rather a philosophical view about science.”[ii]

William Lane Craig dismantles the claim that Peter Atkins, a professor at Oxford University, makes that science accounts for everything: [Video]. See also, “Is Scientism Self-Refuting?” Reasonable Faith, Mar 21, 2011

J.P. Moreland, the author of Scientism and Secularism, discusses this issue of scientism in this video. See also, Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology(Crossway: 2018)

J. Warner Wallace refutes it in “The Dangers of ‘Scientism’ and an Over-Reliance on Science” Cold-Case Christianity (8 Sept. 2023).

Edward Feser also discredits this theory in “Blinded by Scientism” Public Discourse (9 March 2010).

For more Scientific Apologetics from Steve Lee see:

Science Series: C. S. Lewis on Scientism, Evolution, and Intelligent Design

Science Series: The Myth that the Church Hindered the Development of Science

Science Series: The Flat Earth Myth

Science Series: Finely Tuned Cosmos

Science Series: The Dawkins Delusion Continues

Science Series: “Inherit the Wind”

Science Series: Was Belief in God a Science-Stopper? Not for Newton

Science Series: Oxford Professor-Atheism in Decline, Will be Defeated by Faith

Science Series: Creation Confusion – Resources for Research on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design

Science Series: Bill Nye the Pseudo-Science Guy

Science Series: Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God – the Most Popular Article in Wall Street Journal History

Warfare Myth: Science vs. Religion

References:

[i] Editor’s Note: Scientism is often paired with empiricism, which is the idea that knowledge/truth can only be accessed through one’s empirical senses (touch, taste, sight, etc.).

[ii] J.P. Moreland, Love God with All Your Mind (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997), p. 33-34.

Recommended Resources:

Why Science Needs God by Dr. Frank Turek ( DVD and Mp4 )

Science Doesn’t Say Anything, Scientists Do by Dr. Frank Turek ( DVD , Mp3 , and Mp4 )

Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Does Science Disprove God? by Dr. Frank Turek ( DVD and Mp4 )

Stealing From God by Dr. Frank Turek ( Book , 10-Part DVD Set , STUDENT Study Guide , TEACHER Study Guide )

J. Steve Lee has taught Apologetics for over two and a half decades at Prestonwood Christian Academy. He also has taught World Religions and Philosophy at Mountain View College in Dallas and Collin College in Plano. With a degree in history and education from the University of North Texas, Steve continued his formal studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a M.A. in philosophy of religion and has pursued doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Dallas and is finishing his dissertation at South African Theological Seminary. He has published several articles for the Apologetics Study Bible for Students as well as articles and book reviews in various periodicals including Philosophia Christi, Hope’s Reason: A Journal of Apologetics, and the Areopagus Journal. Having an abiding love for fantasy fiction, Steve has contributed chapters to two books on literary criticism of Harry Potter: Harry Potter for Nerds and Teaching with Harry Potter. He even appeared as a guest on the podcast MuggleNet Academia (“Lesson 23: There and Back Again-Chiasmus, Alchemy, and Ring Composition in Harry Potter”). He is married to his lovely wife, Angela, and has two grown boys, Ethan and Josh.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/4fELbgL