GSTS MIDTERM GROUP ASSIGNMENT

Watch the video clip entitled The Magician’s Twin: CS Lewis and the Case
against Scientism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPeyJvXU68k).

Reflect on the notions of development that may evolve into scientism. Discuss with
your group mates and, on a whole sheet of paper, write down your thoughts on the
video clip with the following guide questions:

1. What is Scientism?

According to C.S. Lewis (1925), “Scientism” was coined as "wrong-headed belief

that modern science supplies the only reliable method of knowledge about the world and
also … that scientists should be the ones to dictate public policy and even our moral and
religious beliefs simply on the basis of their scientific expertise." It is also defined as
methods of natural science that should be bar by which every other discipline is judged.

2. How is science comparable to magic?

In the documentary of C.S. Lewis and the Case Against Scientism, C.S. Lewis
compared science to magic in three main reasons: (1) In terms of religion – It explains
that for many people, science (or better, scientism) serves as a quasi-religion. It gives
their lives meaning. Evolution, in particular, provides an overarching vision that many,
find it satisfying: a view of something larger than their experience: the birth and fate of
the universe. For instance, since Darwin's "The Origin of Species" (1859), modern
science has indeed devolved into a pseudo-religion, this gives us a sense of meaning
on the origin of the earth and how a human becomes human, compelling as the main
example of science-as-religion substitutes explanations of God (religion). (2) Science
as Credulity – A second-way science and magic are similar, according to C. S. Lewis,
science is an encouragement of a lack of skepticism. This may seem paradoxical to
many people, however, magical thinking can support a kind of naive thinking where you
just blindly believe whatever 'the experts' say. For Lewis, one of the leading examples
of science empowering universal ignorance was Freudianism and Darwinian. Lewis
concluded that both Darwinian and Freudian theories ultimately lacked the critical
ingredient of reason: "If my own mind is the product of the irrational," he asked, "how
shall I trust my mind when it tells me about evolution?" (3) Science as power – The
third connection concerning science and magic, according to Lewis, is the lust for
power. Magic covets power above all things. Magicians, fortunetellers, witches all crave
power over the natural world and over the universe. They desire to possess the deeper,
mysterious powers of nature in order to control it, to control people. Likewise, Lewis
describes modern science as a potential that can control people, in such, if you find the
right drugs, or find the right treatments, you can manipulate them.

3. Why is science more dangerous than magic?

4. What is the presented essence of modernity and its consequence?

5. What do we need for the sciences to be good?

Submit on or before:

 March 4, 2020 for MWF class

 March 3, 2020 for TThS class