Science, Technology and

Human Values
But at what
cost?
Gilbert Keith
Chesterton
(1874-1936)
Eric Arthur Blair
a.k.a
George Orwell
(1903-1950)
Clive Staples
Lewis
(1898–1963)
Science  Science as Religion
Magic  Science as Credulity
TWINS  Science as Power
  view that only scientific claims are
meaningful
Scientism  excessive belief in the power of
scientific knowledge and techniques
 “Efforts to extend scientific ideas, methods,
practices, and attitudes to matters of human social
and political concern.” -- Richard G. Olson
Scientism
“It is a matter of putting too high a value on
natural science in comparison with other branches
of learning or culture.” -- Tom Sorell
 10 Things You
Should Know
James Porter
Moreland
about
Scientism

https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-
you-should-know-about-scientism/
 1. Scientism is a philosophical thesis that
10 Things comes in two forms.
You 2. Strong scientism is self-refuting.
Should 3. Weak scientism is a foe and not a friend
of science.
Know
4. Scientism leads to secularism and
about marginalizes Christianity and ethics.
Scientism 5. Scientism is causing people to abandon
Christianity.
https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-
you-should-know-about-scientism/
 6. Contrary to scientism, there are things
10 Things we know with greater certainty in
You theology or ethics than certain claims
in science.
Should
7. There are things science cannot explain
Know but theism can.
about  The existence of moral, rational, and
Scientism aesthetic objective laws and intrinsically
valuable properties.

https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-
you-should-know-about-scientism/
10 Things 8. Scientism gains strength from
methodological naturalism.
You 9. Knowledge—not faith or mere belief—
Should gives people authority to speak and act
Know in public.
about 10.The claims of scientism and their
refutation must be presented to
Scientism believers.

https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-
you-should-know-about-scientism/
Think about this:
 How do we prevent something
good from being twisted into
evil ends?
 How can we prevent science
from becoming scientism?