Scientism

Scientism posits that the methods of the natural sciences (namely observation, experimentation, logical deduction, and mathematical quantification) are the only reliable pathways for humanity to acquire knowledge, understand the world, and solve all practical problems. It resolutely rejects any explanations that appeal to mysticism, supernatural forces, or traditional superstitions. Simply put, it advocates “remeasuring everything in human existence by scientific standards,” believing that anything science cannot verify is fundamentally not worth taking seriously.

• The standard of truth: When humanity faces countless conflicting religious beliefs, folk superstitions, and metaphysical schools of thought, what standard should we use to judge which is the true “truth”?
• The secret to progress: Why was human society able to suddenly explode with astonishing material civilization and technological progress in modern times? Is there a universal, omnipotent cognitive method behind this that applies to all things in the universe?
• Expanding rationality: Can we extend the rationality and empirical spirit of science to the study of ethics, politics, and the human mind, thoroughly bidding farewell to the old era filled with blindness and prejudice?

• Scientism and Cognitive Superiority:The core belief of scientism is that science is the only privileged conduit for humanity to grasp the highest truth. Unlike religious beliefs, literature and art, or philosophical intuition, scientific knowledge possesses the characteristics of being repeatedly verifiable, falsifiable, and objectively cumulative. Any theory claiming to explain the world is merely groundless speculation if it refuses to be tested by scientific methods.
• Empiricism and Verification:The world is composed of matter and objective laws, and these laws must be uncovered through sensory observation, experimental data, and rigorous mathematical logic. If a hypothesis cannot be measured or verified in reality, scientism will temporarily or even permanently deem it an invalid proposition. Empirical facts always outweigh an individual’s subjective mystical experiences.
• Mechanistic and Deterministic Universe:From the perspective of classical scientism, the universe is like a massive and precise “giant clock.” All things (from the movement of celestial bodies to the chemical reactions in biological cells) follow strict causality and natural laws. As long as we master enough scientific data and formulas, theoretically, the past and future of the universe can be predicted and calculated.
• Technological Rationality and Progress:Scientism is by no means just a theory in an ivory tower; it carries a strong pragmatic tone. Its ultimate goal is to conquer nature, cure diseases, eliminate poverty, and maximize human well-being through science and technology. Humanity’s fate no longer depends on the whims of deities but rests in our own hands, reshaping the world through continuously advancing technology.

René Descartes — The founding pioneer of modern scientific rationality and the mechanistic worldview, who advocated deconstructing the world with mathematics-like rigorous rationality.

“I think, therefore I am… and I sought to reduce the causes of all natural things to mathematical principles.”

Thomas Henry Huxley — British biologist, the staunchest defender of Darwin’s theory of evolution, and a fierce advocate of scientism.

“Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing.”

We live in a modern world entirely benefiting from science and technology: from the smartphones in our hands and mRNA vaccines to Artificial Intelligence, the productivity revolution brought about by scientism is undoubtedly the greatest achievement in human history. However, when scientism goes to extremes (believing that “only science can solve everything, while art, humanities, and morality are useless rubbish”), it can also plunge modern individuals into another dilemma that is cold, utilitarian, and spiritually impoverished.

Scientism is modern humanity’s most powerful rational artillery against “pseudoscience, blind superstition, and anti-intellectual conspiracy theories.”

When the internet is flooded with anti-vaccine rhetoric, pseudoscientific detox products, or baseless charlatan scams, scientism teaches us to deploy the scientific spirit of “demanding data, valuing evidence, and doubting all unverified claims” to protect ourselves from being deceived.

At the same time, rational reflection reminds us: while science can tell us “how this world operates (How),” it cannot tell us “what the meaning of living is (Why).” While enjoying the conveniences brought by science and technology, we need the sober rationality of scientism to filter out lies, but we also need humanistic care to settle our souls.