scientism
Noun (uncountable): 1. Excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge: "Scientism" refers to the view that the methods and assumptions of the natural sciences are the only reliable source of truth or knowledge, often dismissing other forms of inquiry (e.g., philosophy, art, religion) as inferior or meaningless. 2. The application of scientific methods to fields outside their proper scope: It can also mean the inappropriate or uncritical extension of scientific principles into areas like ethics, politics, or social life, where they may not be fully applicable.
- (An excessive reliance on science as the sole path to knowledge.)
- (Applying scientific methods beyond their appropriate domain.)
- "scientism as a worldview": The tendency to treat science as a comprehensive ideology rather than a practical tool for investigation.
- Scientism, when taken to its extreme, can become a dogma that rejects any form of knowledge not derived from controlled experiments. (A rigid belief system based on scientific authority.)
- Scientistic (adj): relating to or characterized by scientism.
- The scientistic approach to human behaviour often overlooks subjective experience. (An attitude that overvalues scientific methods.)
- Scientist (n): a person who engages in scientific study. (Note: this is a neutral term, not directly implying scientism.)
- Positivism: a philosophical system that recognizes only scientific facts and observable phenomena (a related but narrower term).
- Reductionism: the practice of explaining complex phenomena by simpler, often scientific, principles.
- Empiricism (in a broad sense): the reliance on experience and observation, which in extreme forms can overlap with scientism.
- "The cult of science": a phrase sometimes used to describe scientism, implying an uncritical devotion to scientific authority.
- The writer warned against the cult of science, which treats scientists as infallible experts. (A metaphor for excessive reverence for science.)
"Scientism" is often used pejoratively, implying a dogmatic or narrow-minded attachment to science. It contrasts with a more balanced view that respects scientific methods while acknowledging the value of other ways of knowing, such as philosophical reasoning, artistic insight, or religious faith.