For and Against Scientism: Science, Methodology, and the Future of Philosophy

by Moti Mizrahi Associate Professor of Technology, Florida Institute of Technology (Editor)

Overview

The term “scientism” is used in several ways. It is used to denote an epistemological thesis according to which science is the source of our knowledge about the world and ourselves. Relatedly, it is used to denote a methodological thesis according to which the methods of science are superior to the methods of non-scientific fields or areas of inquiry. It is also used to put forward a metaphysical thesis that what exists is what science says exists. In recent decades, the term “scientism” has acquired a derogatory meaning when it is used in defense of non-scientific ways of knowing. In particular, some philosophers level the charge of “scientism” against those (mostly scientists) who are dismissive of philosophy. Other philosophers, however, embrace scientism, or some variant thereof, and object to the pejorative use of the term. This book critically examines arguments for and against different varieties of scientism in order to answer the central question: Does scientism pose an existential threat to academic philosophy? Or should philosophy become more scientific?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538163344
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/04/2022
Series:	Collective Studies in Knowledge and Society
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	206
File size:	840 KB

About the Author

Moti Mizrahi is associate professor of philosophy at the Florida Institute of Technology. He is the author of The Relativity of Theory: Key Positions and Arguments in the Contemporary Scientific Realism/Antirealism Debate (2020) and the editor of The Kuhnian Image of Science: Time for a Decisive Transformation? (2018).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Moti Mizrahi

1. The Scientism Debate: A Battle for the Soul of Philosophy?

Moti Mizrahi

1. The Supposed Spectre of Scientism

Amanda Bryant

1. Conceptions of Philosophy and the Challenges of Scientism

Ian James Kidd

1. How to Defend Scientism

Petri Turunen, Ilkka Pättiniemi, Ilmari Hirvonen, Johan Hietanen, and Henrik Saarinen

1. Philosophy of Science in Practice and Weak Scientism Together Apart

Luana Poliseli and Federica Russo

1. “Science in the Crosshairs”

Catherine Wilson

1. Between Electrical Light Switches and Panpsychism: Scientism and the Responsibilities of the Humanities in the 21st Century

Ann-Sophie Barwich

1. Whither Academic Philosophy?

Moti Mizrahi

1. Epilogue

Moti Mizrahi

Index

About the Editor

About the Contributors