[MD] Science and Scientism

[markhsmit]

Hi All interested,

I have used the term scientism recently, much to some 
individuals distaste.  I am not using that term in a 
discriminatory fashion, as I myself am a scientist.  I use
it to express a very real belief system.  So let me briefly
explain.  I looked up the term on Wiki just before
writing this, since it seems that many use that
as a truth reference.  I do not go along with the
battle stance of the article, but it gives a useful
description.

Science is a useful tool.  It provides for many things
which enhance our survival, comfort, and enjoyment.
Within science I include applied science, such as
engineering.

Scientism on the other hand is the blind faith that
science provides the best, and perhaps only
true interpretation of the world.  This is held by
scientists and non-scientists.  The rules of scientism
are very narrow, and dogmatic.  Indeed, it is a
fast tenant that if science cannot measure it, it
does not exist.  Scientism does allow for growth in
that if something becomes measurable it does
exist.  A good example is the ghost of gravity that
Pirsig discusses.  Within scientism I am including
the impact of science on such disciplines as
psychology, economics, and personal experience.
The faith in science is abused by those who are
trying to get what they want.

Scientism depends on objectivity.  Everything it
describes is at arms length.  Its proliferation is
one of the key reasons why SOM has become much
more dominant than it used to be.  While it does have
some sense in the object it describes, it has no say
in the personal experience.  This is in the realm of
spiritualism.  Because of the hold of scientism on
our lives, be believe that our experience in this world
is purely due to the objective world.  For example
the notion that the way to be happy is to make more
money.  Money has nothing to do with happiness, and
for those that it does, they have replaced an inner feeling
with an object.  This kind of consumption becomes 
endless, because there is no way it can fulfill.

So, along with scientism, and its preachers, has evolved
a world of objectivism.  I have said before that for every
term in psychology in English, there are forty in Sanskrit.
We have lost the ability to experience ourselves directly.
A good example is Richard Dawkins.  He denies the existence
of God using objective reasoning.  He has no idea what he
is talking about.  Now, if he had been a devote Christian
and now was arguing against it, then I might listen.  However
nothing of the sort has happened.  Yes, a god maybe does
not exist in the world of scientism, but that is simply one of
scientism's beliefs.  Science does not have the tools to measure a god.

So let me say to those who claim that spirituality does not
exist in as real a way as, say, an airplane.  You are doing
battle with windmills.  You are fighting your own demons.
There is no end to that no matter how many tools of 
scientism you use.  They are the wrong tools.  The Kingdom
of Science is not what it appears to be.

I will end with some lyrics of Jeff Tweedy from "Wishful Thinking"
by Wilco.

"Fill up your mind with all it can know 
Don't forget that your body will let it all go 
Fill up your mind with all it can know 
'Cause what would love be without wishful thinking"

Cheers
Mark