Following in the threads of our recent conversations, I just read a good but short article (actually, I don’t think it’s the full version of the article) by Michael Shermer in Scientific American about the philosophy of science often referred to as “scientism.” He defines it as:

Scientism is a scientific worldview that encompasses natural explanations for all phenomena, eschews supernatural and paranormal speculations, and embraces empiricism and reason as the twin pillars of a philosophy of life appropriate for an Age of Science.

And he calls scientism a “bridge spanning the abyss between what physicist C. P. Snow famously called the “two cultures” of science and the arts/humanities (neither encampment being able to communicate with the other).” Later on in it, he writes, tellingly:

Scientism is courageously proffering naturalistic answers that supplant supernaturalistic ones and in the process is providing spiritual sustenance for those whose needs are not being met by these ancient cultural traditions. Second, we are, at base, a socially hierarchical primate species. We show deference to our leaders, pay respect to our elders and follow the dictates of our shamans; this being the Age of Science, it is scientism’s shamans who command our veneration. Third, because of language we are also storytelling, mythmaking primates, with scientism as the foundational stratum of our story and scientists as the premier mythmakers of our time.

If anybody knows where I can find a full copy of this article (that you don’t have to pay for), I would love to read the rest. Also, know any other good links or info on scientism? Drop it in the comments! Thanks.