Title: Deification of science and its disastrous consequences

Authors: Asad Zaman

Addresses: Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, QAU Campus, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

Abstract: Our goal is to show that production of knowledge requires different approaches in different areas. In particular, radically different methodologies are suitable for mathematics, science and humanities. Mathematics requires an axiomatic and deductive approach, while science requires an inductive and empirical approach. Historical events in Europe led to a conflict between science and religion, and a consequent attempt to use science to replace religion. The attempt to prove that science leads to certainty led to the mistaken understanding that scientific methodology is mathematical. The assumption that science is the only valid body of knowledge led to the mistaken attempt to apply this wrong understanding of scientific methodology to the social sciences. These two mistakes have crippled the development of our understanding of human beings and societies. The failure to understand the basic realities of human experience has led to many disasters, and needs to be rectified by correcting this double mistake.

Keywords: logical positivism; axiomatic-deductive method; induction; scientific methodology; pluralism; mathematics; science; humanities; social sciences.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2015.072595

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, 2015 Vol.6 No.2, pp.181 - 197

Received: 04 Feb 2015
Accepted: 15 Jul 2015
Published online: 21 Oct 2015 *

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