Is Science an Ideology?

[Philosophy Now]

Our last issue contained two articles on the philosophy of science: an analysis of the works of Khun and a review of Feyerbend’ Agains Mood. Mike Fuller continues their debate about science, philosophy, & truth.

http://philosophynow.org/issues/15/Is_S ... n_Ideology

[Felasco]

To defenders of science, like Karl Popper, the claim that science itself might be prey to distortion, prejudice and ideology is anathema. To people who believe like Paul Feyerabend that science is “just another ideology”, the common belief that science is a neutral and objective body of knowledge is an indication of just how great an ideological grip it has on people’s minds.

Is there a branch of science whose purpose is to question the degree to which science is a net benefit to mankind?

Is there a branch of science whose purpose is to question how much knowledge human beings can handle?

Is there a branch of science whose purpose is to question what the rate of knowledge development should be?

My college roommate went on to Harvard med school and became a surgeon, clearly a very intelligent person. From junior high days he was always taking engines apart and putting them back together, a natural and gifted mechanical mind from birth.

But, as gifted as he is mechanically, he has little interest in the larger questions posed by philosophy and religion. I see science culture at large as being much like this, very gifted within a narrow range.

As example, I hope you are familiar with the Charlie Rose Show, a talk show which interviews some of the brightest minds on the planet. Charlie has had many very interesting scientists and engineers on to talk about their discoveries and inventions.

None of them ask the larger questions.

All it takes is one bad day to blow up all of human civilization using the inventions of science. Should the nukes go flying one afternoon, will science still have been worth it? Who will be here to enjoy the fruits of science then?

I think of scientists as very highly skilled car mechanics, and they should be applauded and respected for that. But their love is science is so strong that they're going to keep on doing science no matter what the consequences might be.

Within it's own operations science is not an ideology. In it's relationship with the wider society it is. This seems so obvious one wonders what the big debate is all about....